Connections of the Epsom runner-up Dragon Dancer are faced with a €100,000 gamble this morning if they want to allow the horse the chance to win his first race in Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby.

Racing's most high-profile maiden will have to be supplemented into Ireland's most valuable classic at today's forfeit stage if he is to run at the weekend and the current quick ground conditions at the Curragh is making that a difficult decision.

Trainer Geoff Wragg has already stated he doesn't want the ground to be too firm for Dragon Dancer and that was echoed by jockey Darryll Holland yesterday. "At the moment the ground there is quite firm and his participation is ground-dependent. It's not a decision to be taken lightly. If the conditions are not right, he won't run," said Holland.

Yesterday the going at headquarters continued to be described as "good to firm" and watering on the Derby course continued despite the overcast and damp weather conditions in the east of the country. "It's mainly just mist and drizzle with no rain of any significance. It's making no difference and we are continuing to water," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey.

The other high-profile name that will have to be supplemented into the Derby is the 11 to 4 ante-post favourite Darsi but Holland yesterday stressed he believes that Dragon Dancer has improved for his short-head defeat by Sir Percy at Epsom.

"He hasn't surprised me. We always knew he had potential and he has improved with every run. He improved for his Chester run behind Papal Bull at Epsom and when I sat on him the other day I felt he had improved again," the jockey said.

The Curragh authorities are expecting up to 10 runners in the Derby and Hensey said yesterday: "Two horses look like being supplemented and there are three horses that ran at Epsom that look like coming here. Aidan (O'Brien) looks like he could have up to three or four in the race and there is usually a surprise or two. I would be hopeful of at least 10 runners which would give us another good quality race."

One horse already ruled out though is the John Oxx-trained King In Waiting who ran third to Puerto Rico in the Gallinule Stakes on the second of his two career starts to date.

"He will be coming out of the race. He needs more time and won't be running until later in the year. He has had no serious setback but we will give him time," said Oxx yesterday.

Another colt ruled out is the French-trained Linda's Lad, ninth at Epsom, who will wait instead for a Group Two race in late July. "His next race will probably be the Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons Laffitte on July 23rd." said a spokesman for owner Seán Mulryan.

Saturday's feature is the Group One Audi Pretty Polly Stakes and last year's winner, Alexander Goldrun, looks set to try and bring off a memorable double against her old rival Red Bloom. The two older fillies were first and second in the mile and a quarter race 12 months ago and were among the 10 entries left in the Pretty Polly at yesterday's forfeit stage.

Another filly who ran in the race last year is Chelsea Rose who again features among the entries alongside a number of classic placed three-year-olds that will provide a clash of the generations. Ardbrae Lady was a six-length runner-up to Nightime in the Irish 1,000 Guineas while Queen Cleopatra, third in that race, and also third to Confidential Lady in the French Oaks, is one of two Aidan O'Brien-trained entries.

John Oxx's consistent stayer Mkuzi will attempt a three-in-a-row in Saturday's other feature, the Attheraces Curragh Cup after 12 horses were left in the Group Three event yesterday.

Mkuzi won the Curragh Cup in 2004 and 2005 and Oxx reported yesterday: "He definitely runs and he is in good form. He ran well in the Saval Beg and seems to like the race at the weekend. He'll go on anything bar extremes of ground." The local trainer also has both Kastoria and Sunday's Gowran winner, Virginia Woolf, in the race but said yesterday that a decision about Kastoria's participation won't be taken until later in the week.

Both the champion jockey Pat Smullen and the season's leading rider Johnny Murtagh travel to Sligo this evening and the latter can add to his tally with the Listowel hurdle winner Who'd Of Guest in the claimer.

Smullen, though, can strike back with Definite in the mile and a half handicap.