Fame’s the one to give Aidan O’Brien his Derby glory

Real class: Fame And Glory impressively wins the Derrinstown Derby Trial

13 April 2012

Never underestimate the value of jockeyship at Epsom. If Lester Piggott and Kieren Fallon are considered the finest purveyors of riding the undulating, helter-skelter track when it matters most, Johnny Murtagh hasn't done too badly, either. It is three Derby victories and counting.

Yet there are more than a few raised eyebrows over his choice of ride for tomorrow's Classic.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who is responsible for six of the 13 runners, has won Derby trials with four different horses and Murtagh has surprisingly forsaken all of them to ride Rip Van Winkle.

As the Ballydoyle stable's No1 jockey, he says it is his decision - not an edict from his paymasters - but it is hard to believe that he would turn down either unbeaten FAME AND GLORY (nap) or Black Bear Island.

Though Murtagh struggled to pull Rip Van Winkle up after he finished an unlucky fourth to Sea The Stars in the 2,000 Guineas, the jockey admitted afterwards: "I don't know if he'd stay a mile and a half."

Rip Van Winkle may have a high cruising speed, yet the fact remains that he didn't handle Newmarket well. He has had two runs at HQ and on both occasions he has become unbalanced there.

Murtagh added: "Newmarket is not the most straightforward track and I don't think he handled it that great."

So how will he handle Epsom's eccentricities, with climbs, descents, turns and cambers? Worse than some, is the educated guess.

As well as question marks about staying the extra four furlongs, Rip Van Winkle has something to find on his Guineas form with Sea The Stars - another with stamina doubts - and the third home, Gan Amhras.

Fame And Glory, on the other hand, ticks all the right speed and stamina boxes. He showed impressive tactical speed in winning the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown under his big-race jockey Seamus Heffernan and although he beat the same horses he'd defeated before, he is guaranteed to stay the trip.

The crowds and the occasion are part of why the Derby is the greatest race in the world. As well as the physical tools, a horse also needs a cast-iron temperament.

Heffernan says his mount is up to the task. "It's a big day and the horses have to take in a lot of things. There is no doubt about Fame And Glory's temperament, that's 100 per cent."

Stablemate Black Bear Island must also be on the shortlist. He came from a long way back to win the Dante going away at York and his breeding - he is a brother to Derby winner High Chaparral - suggests that he will welcome an extra two furlongs.

It doesn't hurt that he is partnered by Britain's champion jockey and last year's runner-up Ryan Moore. The consistency and maturity is what sets Moore apart from many of his rivals.

Jamie Spencer must be ruing his luck after losing the high-pressured top job at Ballydoyle for lacking those qualities but there is no doubting his ability in the saddle when he is at his best.

He rides the Brian Meehan-trained Crowded House, who flopped badly in the Dante, but it was subsequently found that his blood was all wrong.

He worked very well earlier this week and Meehan appears to have won a race against time to get the colt fit. He is a big price to make the frame if anywhere near his best.

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Fame’s the one to give Aidan O’Brien his Derby glory

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