DERBY NEWS:BALLYDOYLE'S NUMBER one jockey, Johnny Murtagh, has finally plumped to ride Rip Van Winkle in Saturday's Investec Derby leaving the door open for his understudy, Séamus Heffernan, to team up with the long-time ante-post favourite Fame And Glory at Epsom.
After a number of work-outs by Aidan O'Brien's Derby contenders yesterday morning, a prolonged period of deliberation by Murtagh, O'Brien and others in the Coolmore camp resulted in jockey arrangements for all six of the trainer's intended Derby runners.
With Murtagh ending weeks of speculation by finally deciding to ride the Newmarket Guineas fourth over the unbeaten Derrinstown winner, Britain's champion jockey Ryan Moore steps in to ride the Dante hero Black Bear Island with Pat Smullen teaming up with the Lingfield Trial winner Age Of Aquarius.
That leaves Richard Hughes to partner Masterofthehorse while Colm O'Donoghue retains the ride on his surprise Chester Vase winner, Golden Sword.
Final declarations for the Derby don't have to be made until tomorrow morning and O'Brien stressed last evening: "These arrangements are not set in stone. They could change. But that is the way we are thinking right now."
Murtagh's agonising choice leaves him pursuing a fourth Derby victory on Rip Van Winkle but also leaves the way open for Heffernan to attempt a first success in the world's most famous flat race.
The Sallins native partnered Fame And Glory in his Derrinstown Stud warm-up last month and afterwards described the Montjeu colt as a "special horse". Heffernan rode both Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) to win the Derrinstown before they scored at Epsom under different riders. But he is a proven big-race pilot having won the last two Irish Derbys on Soldier Of Fortune and Frozen Fire.
Epsom's authorities announced yesterday that they are unlikely to water the track anymore as a changed weather forecast is predicting showers on Friday and Saturday.
O'Brien was unconcerned with that yesterday and said: "All any of us want is safe going. The horses that worked here this morning all seem to be fine afterwards."
In other Derby news, the 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars has been left in Sunday's Prix Du Jockey Club as a precaution by trainer John Oxx.
Jockeys in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom will wear black armbands as a mark of respect to legendary trainer Vincent O'Brien.
The Irish maestro, who died on Monday aged 92, won the Premier Classic six times with such champions as Sir Ivor and Nijinsky, as well as saddling two Oaks winners.
After obtaining the approval of O'Brien's family, executives at the Surrey course have revealed other tributes on the day.
"We are going to have all the jockeys in the Derby wearing black armbands," said Epsom's Nick Blofeld, who said there will be other tributes.
