Epsom hero Beggy misses out as Moore takes over in Derby

Padraig Beggy, who burst on to the big-race stage when partnering Wings Of Eagles to a surprise win in the Investec Derby this month, will be a spectator when the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is run at the Curragh on Saturday.

The horse he rode to a shock 40-1 victory at Epsom was solid in the betting for Saturday's showpiece on Thursday, with bet365's 9-4 the standout price, while French raider Waldgeist came in for sustained support and is no bigger than 5-2.

Cracksman, the one-time favourite, was weak at 3-1 with Coral and 100-30 with Betfair Sportsbook.

Coral's David Stevens said: "Having been a 40-1 outsider when winning at Epsom earlier this month, Wings Of Eagles now looks certain to start favourite as he bids to complete the Derby double, with the one-time market leader Cracksman a very easy to back third favourite following the rainfall over the Curragh this week."

Cracksman, who will be ridden by Pat Smullen in Frankie Dettori's absence, has been drifting in the marketCredit: Mark Cranham

Aidan O’Brien, who will be bidding for a 12th win in the Classic, has declared five for the race with Ryan Moore, who rode Cliffs Of Moher to finish second at Epsom, taking over from Beggy on Wings Of Eagles, who will be attempting to become the fifth O’Brien-trained colt to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double.

Four of the six Ballydoyle colts who ran in the Epsom Classic will be in the nine-runner line-up on Saturday.

Seamie Heffernan, who has twice been successful in the race, will again partner Capri who finished sixth at Epsom, while Donnacha O’Brien takes over from Colm O’Donoghue – who partners the Jessica Harrington-trained Grandee – on Douglas Macarthur who was one place behind Capri in the Derby.

Ana O’Brien retains the ride on The Anvil who finished 17th at Epsom while the experienced Wayne Lordan, who is in his first season as part of O’Brien’s riding team, partners Taj Mahal, the only one of the Ballydoyle quintet not to have run at Epsom and who finished fourth in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

O'Brien, who indicated that Beggy was unlucky to miss out on this occasion but stressed that the Epsom hero would continue to get opportunities at Ballydoyle, said: "All five of our Irish Derby runners seem to be in good form. Obviously, we’re hoping they don’t get a lot more rain as the better it is, the more it will suit most of our runners."

Asked if the prospect of easy ground would be a plus for Capri, O'Brien said: “We don’t think Capri has to have slow ground but he has some good form on it and has shown that he handles plenty of ease.”

Capri (right) could enjoy underfoot conditions given the forecast rainCredit: Patrick McCann

The ground at the Curragh on Thursday was good to yielding on the round course and yielding in the straight. More rain is forecast for Thursday night and Friday morning.

O'Brien confirmed that Somehow will miss the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

And although a final decision about the future of Acapulco has yet to be made, O'Brien said: "We haven't decided but it's most likely that she will be retired."