Racing: In the absence of Johnny Murtagh, Jimmy Fortune will partner Rip Van Winkle in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown this weekend.
After Murtagh last week failed in an appeal to reduce a ban incurred on Kayf Aramis at Royal Ascot, the mount on Aidan O’Brien’s colt became available to one lucky jockey.
Murtagh has partnered Rip Van Winkle on each of his five racecourse starts to date, winning twice as a two-year-old and picking him above other O’Brien horses to finish fourth to Eclipse opponent Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.
Fortune has only ridden for O’Brien a handful of times in recent seasons, and without success.
But when Murtagh was banned for the last two days of the Royal meeting, he was entrusted aboard the stable’s Beethoven in the Chesham Stakes, steering him to fourth.
“It’s great news - I’m delighted,” Fortune said this afternoon. “With Johnny suspended the ride was available, and my agent just rang me up with the news this morning.
“Dropping back to a mile and a quarter should suit him and I should think he has a great chance - I’m very hopeful.”
One of Rip Van Winkle’s other main rivals will be Cima De Triomphe, who completed his preparations on the gallops on Tuesday.
The horse is the 8-1 fourth favourite with the sponsors, and defeated the much shorter-priced Conduit in May’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes — albeit on 7lb better terms.
The colt made his debut for Luca Cumani when closing into sixth behind Royal Ascot winner Vision D’Etat in the Prix Ganay. Cima De Triomphe had previously been trained in Italy as a two- and three-year-old.
Sandown’s director of racing Andrew Cooper had a ground update, reporting: “Friday looks the first sign of us having any rain this week.
“The view we’ve taken is that we should do enough, irrigation wise, in the early part of week so we go in to Thursday night on good to firm ground.
“If we catch some rain, it shouldn’t ease too much, but if we don’t, it shouldn’t be rattling-fast ground.”