Rip Van Winkle set for Epsom
Johnny Murtagh is set to ride Rip Van Winkle in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom.
Murtagh has the choice of Aidan O'Brien's six runners in the race and although the rider has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the 2000 Guineas fourth, speculation had been rife about which horse he would partner.
However, O'Brien has now made his provisional riding plans with Seamus Heffernan pencilled in to team up with Fame And Glory, favourite with some bookmakers for the Classic.
Heffernan was aboard Fame And Glory when he won the Derrinstown Derby Trial by an impressive five lengths.
Champion jockey Ryan Moore is due to ride Dante winner Black Bear Island with Pat Smullen the choice for Lingfield Derby Trial winner Age Of Aquarius.
Colm O'Donoghue is set for Chester Vase winner Golden Sword with Richard Hughes on Masterofthehorse, runner-up to his stable companion in the Chester event.
A Ballydoyle statement added: "These riding plans are not set in stone but this is the way we are thinking at the moment."
Coral reacted to the news by trimming Rip Van Winkle to 9-2 from 6-1 for the Epsom Classic while easing stablemate Fame And Glory to 3s from 11-4.
"Johnny Murtagh's chosen mount was always going to be of great interest to punters, and his presence on board Rip Van Winkle would ensure that horse was popular on race day, but maybe not enough to head the betting," said spokesman David Stevens.
Totesport go 4-1 about Rip Van Winkle with John Oxx's See The Stars the 11-4 favourite and Fame And Glory also on 4-1.
Black Bear Island and Masterofthehorse are 9-1 and 16-1 respectively with Age Of Aquarius remaining a 25-1 shot and Golden Sword at 33s.
Kite Wood, one of only a handful of British-trained contenders in the race, came through his final exercise with flying colours on Tuesday morning and is 25-1 with both firms.
Godolphin's sole contender for the Classic finished fifth in the Dante Stakes at York behind Black Bear Island but is expected to improve for the run, as most of Saeed bin Suroor's runners have done this season.
"He worked five days ago and it was a very nice piece of work, everything went well," said Godolphin's trainer.
"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.
"All our horses are improving for a run. When this horse ran at York he needed the race so he'll improve from that.
"The Derby is a very hard race but I think 12 furlongs will really help him and he wasn't beaten far at York.
"I think he has a chance over this trip. He was happy and fresh today and that is always a good sign before a big race."
Investec Derby betting:
totesport: 11-4 Sea The Stars, 4-1 Fame And Glory, Rip Van Winkle, 6-1 Gan Amhras, 9-1 Black Bear Island, 16-1 Masterofthehorse, 25-1 Age Of Aquarius, Crowded House, Kite Wood, 33-1 bar.
Coral: 3-1 Fame And Glory, Sea The Stars, 9-2 Rip Van Winkle, 6-1 Black Bear Island, 7-1 Gan Amhras, 14-1 Masterofthehorse, 16-1 Age Of Aquarius, 25-1 Crowded House, Golden Sword, Kite Wood, 33-1 bar.
