But the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt misses the race because of soft ground, leaving Murtagh free to team up with Saturn for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.

He rode Michael Bell’s charge into fifth place behind Tout Seul in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes last autumn and regularly rides for the syndicate.

“We have an agreement with Johnny that in principal races if he’s not riding for the Aga, he will ride for us and thankfully for us the Aga’s horse was taken out at the declaration stage which means that he’s available,” Highclere spokesman Tim Jones said today.

“The fact that he knows the horse having ridden him in the Dewhurst tipped the scales his way.

“But it is absolutely no reflection on Kevin (Darley). When Johnny was originally booked for the Aga we were naturally thrilled to have Kevin on board, but we just feel that a race of this nature we are probably at a tiny advantage to have a man that has ridden the horse before.

“And with our association with Johnny through Petrushka it’s something we’ve always been keen to maintain.”

Saturn is reported to be in top form ahead of his Classic bid.

“The horse is in great shape and Michael feels it is not out of the question that he’s improved again since the Guineas,” added Jones.

“He will, in Michael’s opinion, really enjoy the ground. It is very interesting that whenever this horse has worked on rain-softened ground at home he has always shown improved work.

“He’s an interesting work horse anyway, but he’s always that bit better in Michael’s opinion when there’s a little juice in the ground.

“He’s never experienced it on the racecourse so the proof will be in the pudding.

“He’s in great shape and deserves his place.”

Jones was also pleased to hear that Saturn, fifth behind Refuse To Bend in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, had been drawn seven.

“That’s in the middle and should be all right,” he concluded.

Saturn is 10-1 with Coral, who make Guineas runner-up Zafeen the new favourite at 7-2 following the expected defection of Catcher In The Rye.

O’Brien took French 2000 Guineas runner-up Catcher In The Rye and Statue Of Liberty out of the race at today’s final stage because of the soft ground.

He still has a strong hand as he bids to register his fifth success in the Curragh showpiece in the last seven years.

His representatives in a 16-runner field are Tomahawk, France, Great Pyramid, Salt Lake City and the unraced Solskjaer.

Paddy Power quote O’Brien at 11-4 to win the race.

There is a six-strong British challenge, including Saturn and Zafeen.

Others are Godolphin’s Desert Destiny and the Paul D’Arcy-trained Indian Haven, who were both supplemented on Tuesday at a cost of 40,000 euros, Tout Seul from Fulke Johnson Houghton’s stable and the Barry Hills-trained Makhlab.

Refuse To Bend’s trainer Dermot Weld saddles Evolving Tactics.