Monte added to Derby field
The Mark Johnston-trained colt could be the one to end Aidan O’Brien’s domination of the Classic after connections decided to pay the €150,000 to put the impressive King Edward VII Stakes winner into the big race.
O’Brien’s Jan Vermeer is the general 2-1 favourite and the Investec Derby fourth is one of five possibles from the Ballydoyle stable.
O’Brien could also be represented by At First Sight, Bright Horizon, Cape Blanco and Midas Touch as he seeks to be successful for an eighth time in total and for the fifth in a row.
Bookmakers believe what Johnny Murtagh rides will end up as the market leader.
“Johnny Murtagh holds the key to who’ll start favourite for the race,” said William Hill spokesman Tony Kenny.
“At the moment it looks like he’ll ride Jan Vermeer, but you never can be 100% sure what Ballydoyle are going to do.
“Monterosso is an exciting addition to the line-up, and he should pose a huge threat to team Coolmore.”
Ladbrokes agree with their spokeswoman Hayley O’Connor adding: “Jan Vermeer heads our Derby market but Murtagh’s choice will be crucial.
“The fact that Mark Johnson has supplemented Monterosso for such a big price indicates he’s come out of his King Edward win well and clearly has strong claims for the Irish Classic.”
There are three other entries from Britain in Godolphin’s Chabal, the Michael Bell-trained Coordinated Cut and David Simcock’s Dubawi Phantom.
Jim Bolger’s duo of Carraiglawn and Puncher Clynch complete the 11 contenders.
Bell reports Coordinated Cut on course for a crack at the Classic after he took seventh place at Epsom.
“He is running in the Irish Derby this weekend and is in good form at present,” said Bell.
“The track at the Curragh will suit him much better than Epsom, so hopefully we will be able to get a true handle on what real level of ability he has.
“Whether we can find the improvement and turn the tables on the likes of Jan Vermeer remains to be seen.
“I wouldn’t like to predict that. I’ll let the horse do the talking on the day and see what happens.”
Frankie Dettori believes Chabal to be back to form after he finished a well-beaten fourth in the Dante Stakes at York.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt hated the quick ground that day but would be a different proposition granted easier conditions. “Chabal has come back to form. The key thing to him is we need the rain,” Dettori told At The Races.
“We ran him in the Dante at York on firm ground and he very obviously didn’t like it.
“The dry weather right now is not too encouraging but you never know what will happen at the end of the week. They’ve had three years of rain in Ireland. It’s not unusual to get their Derby on soft ground.”
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
William Hill: 2-1 Jan Vermeer, 4-1 Monterosso, 9-2 Cape Blanco, Midas Touch, 10-1 Bar
Ladbrokes: 2-1 Jan Vermeer, 3-1 Cape Blanco, Monterosso, 6-1 Midas Touch, 9-1 Bar
