JOHNNY MURTAGH will ride Rip Van Winkle in this Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
Murtagh had the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s six runners in the Epsom Classic and had already hinted of his affection for the 2,000 Guineas fourth. Now with confirmation that Murtagh will ride Rip Van Winkle, the Galileo colt has been cut by the bookmakers. He is vying for favouritism with some firms and is now a best-priced 5-1 with Victor Chandler and Sportingbet.
O’Brien has also made provisional riding plans for his other runners with Seamus Heffernan due to ride Fame And Glory – a 4-1 chance with totesport – whom he partnered to win the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial by five lengths.
Champion jockey Ryan Moore will partner Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island, Pat Smullen rides Lingfield Derby Trial scorer Age Of Aquarius, while Colm O’Donoghue is set for Chester Vase winner Golden Sword with Richard Hughes on Masterofthehorse.
A Ballydoyle statement said: “These riding plans are not set in stone but this is the way we are thinking at the moment.”
Black Bear Island is a 9-1 chance with totesport and Boylesports and Masterofthehorse is 16-1 with the former.
Kite Wood is one of only five British-trained horses currently entered for the race but connections were happy with his final piece of work yesterday morning .
The Godolphin colt, fifth to Black Bear Island in the Dante at York, is generally 25-1 with most firms.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “He worked five days ago and it was a very nice piece of work, everything went well.
“He’s ready to go and today was his last piece, his last blow-out before the race and everything went nicely.
“He’s in good form, we’ve had no problems with him and I think a mile and a half will really suit him – we just need the ground to be good for him.”
Meanwhile all jockeys in Saturday’s Classic will wear black armbands as a mark of respect to six-time Derby-winning trainer Vincent O'Brien, who died aged 92 on Monday
TODAY’S NAP: Exit Smiling (8.10pm Ripon).
