Fallon is the man to work wonders in the Oaks before his Derby date

With Fallon on the classically bred filly Wonder of Wonders, the second favourite, in the Oaks and also riding the enigmatic colt Recital in the Derby 24 hours later, there is a strong chance that they will share at least one more victory at the highest level.

Once, this high-achieving duo were almost inseparable as they delivered a conveyor belt of successes in the races that matter most in the racing calendar including the 2006 Oaks with Alexandrova.

Then came a painful parting shortly after Fallon's appearance with others at a race fixing trial which collapsed late in 2007 followed immediately by the sensational news that the jockey had failed a drugs test in France.

When Fallon eventually returned to action after a lengthy suspension, Johnny Murtagh was fully established as Ballydoyle's resident stable jockey. Yet racing is an ever moving carousel and once Murtagh chose to end his partnership with O'Brien late last year, one sensed that it would only be a matter of time before Fallon was back in the fold.

Sure enough, he rode Recital to an easy success in a key Derby trial at Leopardstown last month and though his name has been closely linked with the Guineas third Native Khan in recent weeks, he was always likely to side with an O'Brien contender at Epsom.

"I have a lot of respect for Native Khan but unfortunately I had to turn him down because we can only ride one at a time," he said this week by way of explanation.

The bonus for Fallon is that he also gets to ride Wonder of Wonders. Ryan Moore was O'Brien's first choice as jockey for the filly after their impressive triumph in the Cheshire Oaks but he is needed by his boss Sir Michael Stoute for Havant in the same race. So, to his evident delight, Fallon got the nod.

It is legitimate to argue that experience in the saddle is more important on the tricky switchback course at Epsom than anywhere else. Fallon rides it to perfection, has won the Derby three times and the Oaks on four occasions. He is encouraged in his ambition tomorrow by the knowledge that All Too Beautiful, the mother of Wonder of Wonders, was second to the mighty Ouija Board in the 2004 Oaks, barely two months after her racecourse debut.

Breeding punting will tell you that the pedigree of Wonder of Wonders is gilt-edged. She is by Kingmambo, who has already produced an Oaks heroine, out of a mare who is a sister to the Derby winner Galileo and a half-sister to another in Sea The Stars.

Wonder of Wonders is progressing at a rate of knots, is guaranteed to stay the distance of the Oaks and has the best Epsom rider of his era on her back. At odds around 4-1, she offers tremendous each-way value against Blue Bunting, who shot to the head of the market after her unexpected victory in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

That was an odd race with the leaders buffeted by a gale force headwind. Canny Frankie Dettori sheltered her behind a wall of horses before delivering her late along the stands rails to snatch the prize.

He said: "That was a pleasant surprise because though she was working well, she had a lot to prove. We thought a mile would be too short for her at Newmarket but wanted her to run well before the Oaks. She is a worthy favourite."

Others in the mix include another O'Brien challenger Misty For Me, Mick Channon's Zain Al Boldan and a likely outsider Dancing Rain. But Wonder of Wonders is the value selection.

Carlton House, the Queen's horse, was today declared for Saturday's Investec Derby after he knocked a near-fore joint on Monday.