JOHNNY MURTAGH will attempt to secure a third Irish Derby victory on Sunday aboard Alessandro Volta, who will be one of a five-strong Aidan O'Brien team attempting to secure another little bit of history for the champion trainer.
Never in the 142-year history of Ireland's greatest prize has a trainer won the Derby three times in a row, but O'Brien stands on the verge of breaking that trend after wins for Soldier Of Fortune last year and Dylan Thomas in 2006.
He faced a similar scenario in 2003 after wins the previous years by Galileo and High Chaparral, but Roosevelt, who did best of his team that season, finished only third behind Alamshar, who, ironically, was ridden by Murtagh.
Yesterday O'Brien confirmed Murtagh will be back on board Alessandro Volta, who he rode to win the Lingfield Derby Trial last month.
The jockey, however, elected to ride King Of Rome at Epsom and Séamus Heffernan partnered the Montjeu colt into sixth, one place behind Washington Irving. O'Brien said yesterday: "Séamus Heffernan will ride Frozen Fire, Colm O'Donoghue will be on Washington Irving, Davy McCabe is on Hindu Kush and Seán Levey will probably ride Bashkirov."
The Ballydoyle trainer is pursuing a sixth win in the race in total but faces a major task in trying to turn around form with the first three at Epsom led by the odds-on favourite New Approach.
His trainer, Jim Bolger, was critical of the Curragh authorities after the star chestnut was beaten in last month's Irish Guineas on fast ground. But the going doesn't appear likely to be an issue this time.
The surface at headquarters was described as "good" yesterday, with 3-4mms of rain expected this morning.
"That could have us just on the easy side of good for Friday evening but there is no significant rain forecast after that so my best guesstimate is that we should be good for Saturday and Sunday," said the track manager, Paul Hensey, yesterday.
The final Derby field will be declared today, with both Tartan Bearer and Casual Conquest, who filled the places at Epsom, back for another crack at New Approach.
Peter Reynolds, manager of Ballymacoll Stud which owns Tartan Bearer, said yesterday: "I can't see any reason why he shouldn't have a wonderful opportunity. The Curragh is a flat, galloping track, which should suit our horse and the ground should be perfect. It's a long time since we won with Troy (1979)."
Tartan Bearer's trainer, Michael Stoute, will also be represented in tomorrow's Group One Audi Pretty Polly Stakes with Promising Lead, who will be joined in a cross-channel raid by Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova.
Finsceal Beo will fly the flag for the Jim Bolger team in the nine-runner mile-and-a-quarter event and she will be joined in the race by Dermot Weld's Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up, Mad About You.
Ballydoyle will be doubly represented by Sail and Ice Queen, while Kevin Prendergast is also double-handed with Marjalina and Beach Bunny.
DERBY BETTING: (Boylesports): 4-5 New Approach, 3 Tartan Bearer, 5 Casual Conquest, 10 Alessandro Volta, 14 Curtain Call and Washington Irving, 20 Bar.
