Murtagh reflects on Ballydoyle Derby candidates

Johnny Murtagh believes Aidan O'Brien's squad for the blue riband will become clearer over the next fortnight as a host of Ballydoyle stars go on trial for the Epsom Classic.

Recent Ballysax Stakes winner Fame And Glory will have his mettle tested further in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on Sunday, while the likes of Masterofthehorse and Age Of Aquarius will come under the microscope in the coming days.

Murtagh was aboard Fame And Glory when he defied a penalty to score at Leopardstown last month in a race O'Brien also won with Epsom heroes High Chaparral and Galileo.

Murtagh, who has ridden Motivator, High Chaparral and Sinndar to Derby success, said: 'He is a very solid horse and we are expecting a good run in the Derrinstown.'

'He is a lovely horse with a lovely temperament. He ran a blinder in the Ballysax when I thought he might just need the race and be vulnerable. He now has a run under his belt and Aidan's horses have been needing their runs more so than ever this year. They are all fit but need to put in a bit of sharpness.'

'We have a lot of nice, unexposed three-year-olds and then there are Fame And Glory and Mastercraftsman who were Group One winners as juveniles. With Chester, Lingfield and York over the next couple of weeks, the picture will become clearer.'

Murtagh was aboard Rip Van Winkle when he made late headway to finish fourth in the 2000 Guineas last Saturday, but the rider is not totally convinced the son of Galileo will stay the mile and a half at Epsom.

'Rip Van Winkle ran well in the Guineas and Aidan is talking of sending him straight to Epsom now. I like the way he finished in the Guineas but I am not sure he will get a mile and a half though. He has a high cruising speed, which you do need in the Derby.'