Smullen expects battle of wits with Ballydoyle on Cracksman

Pat Smullen, increasingly the modern day Mick Kinane after becoming the go-to man for top British trainers, is preparing to ride Cracksman in Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, knowing the Classic will be a tactical minefield.

Smullen, triumphant on Harzand 12 months ago, will seek to complete back-to-back victories in the Curragh showpiece after John Gosden and Anthony Oppenheimer made Dermot Weld's stable jockey their choice to replace Frankie Dettori for the rematch between the Investec Derby third and shock Epsom hero Wings Of Eagles.

With Ryan Moore set to take over from Padraig Beggy aboard Ballydoyle's Wings Of Eagles, the two stars vying for favouritism will each have a new man in the hotseat compared to Epsom, but whereas Cracksman will be the sole British participant, Aidan O'Brien still has eight of the 12 possible runners.

Andre Fabre, whose Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Waldgeist is clear third choice with bookmakers at no bigger than 7-2, Jim Bolger and Jessica Harrington, are, along with Gosden, the only trainers other than O'Brien who could be represented.

Moreover, with the sport's dominant stable also having Capri, Douglas Macarthur, Venice Beach and The Anvil coming on from Epsom, Smullen – who first landed the Irish Derby on Grey Swallow in 2004 – knows he not only has to beat the Ballydoyle challengers, he has to outfox them as well.

Asked about facing an O'Brien battalion, Smullen said: "You have to have your wits about you. That goes without saying.

"We'll have to see who the final runners are, but in any big race you have to be tactically aware. You have to do your homework and you have to expect the unexpected. This will be tactical. That's a given."

Also a given is that Smullen, used regularly in recent years by the likes of Sir Michael Stoute and Hugo Palmer, plus top owner Khalid Abdullah, fancies his chances aboard Cracksman, who raced prominently in the Derby before being overhauled by Wings Of Eagles and the latter's Coral-Eclipse-bound stable companion Cliffs Of Moher.

Wings Of Eagles is a best-priced 9-4, while Cracksman, whose regular rider Dettori is sidelined with a shoulder injury, can be backed at 5-2.

"The circumstances are obviously unfortunate for Frankie, but I'm thrilled to have picked up the mount," said Smullen.

"Cracksman is a great spare ride to get. He's a very smart colt. I don't think there were too many hard luck stories on the day for him at Epsom, but even if he reproduces that run it makes him one of the principal horses and it should leave him very competitive.

"You can't take away from Wings Of Eagles the fact he won the Derby, but this will be a new day on a new track.

"I'm very hopeful of a huge run, although I do think the French horse has been overlooked a little. His form is strong. He was just beaten a short-head in the Jockey Club. Not for one minute would I be putting a line through him.

"There is more than one horse to beat and it's going to be a competitive race. That said, I wouldn't swap the ride I've got and I'm really looking forward to riding Cracksman."

Waldgeist (red), just denied by Brametot in the Prix du Jockey Club, is highly respected by Pat SmullenCredit: Edward Whitaker

Smullen, who is "looking forward" to teaming up with the Weld-trained Man o' War Stakes winner Zhukova in Sunday's Pretty Polly Stakes providing there is sufficient ease in the ground, guided Mori into second in last week's Ribblesdale Stakes for Stoute and Abdullah, a combination he has joined forces with through the likes of Snow Sky, Midterm and Exosphere.

The 40-year-old has also recently been picked up by Gosden, including in the Derby aboard Khalidi and for three rides at Royal Ascot.

"John must have been happy enough with me in the few rides I've had for him," said Smullen. "I know top jockeys can ride anywhere in the world, but I suppose a little local knowledge might have been a deciding factor in my favour this time as well. I don't know what was behind the decision but I'm thrilled they chose me.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm the modern-day Mick Kinane but thankfully I've been on people's lists when it comes to spare rides. Long may that continue."

Wings Of Eagles (left) denies Cliffs Of Moher (centre) and Cracksman in the DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst

In revealing the booking of Smullen, Gosden described him as "a good jockey", while he also spoke flatteringly about Wings Of Eagles.

"Cracksman is in great form," said Gosden. "The Curragh is a lovely track and I think it will suit him.

"I thought Wings Of Eagles was impressive in the Derby. I’m very clear in my mind he would have been an unlucky loser, as he was stopped twice in running and still won it at the finish.

"I don't think it was a fluke, but the pair of them are nice horses and it will be great to see them meet up at the Curragh."

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby card, form and betting