Hughes steps in

Richard Hughes will be reunited with Sunshine Street in Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh. Hughes rode the Noel Meade-trained colt in his first two starts of the season but missed out on Sunshine Street's second to Risk Material in the Derrinstown Derby Trial and when he was fourth in the Epsom Derby.

John Murtagh had the mount at Epsom, and Meade had been hoping that he could again take the ride at the Curragh. However, Murtagh has been claimed to ride Takarian for John Oxx in the big race.

"Richard will ride Sunshine Street as he has ridden him before and knows him. The horse is well but we're hoping the ground dries up," Meade said yesterday.

Takarian was confirmed a runner yesterday by John Oxx, who had been considering the German Derby as a possible alternative. "He worked this morning and we were happy enough with him. He's a nice, useful horse, a Group Three horse up to now. It's not that he has suddenly improved two stone, but we think it's worth letting him take his chance," said Oxx.

The Godolphin team, who won the Irish Derby in 1995 with Balanchine, are not overly concerned about the prospect of soft ground for the favourite, City Honours.

"City Honours has never raced on ground like Sunday's before but he gives the impression he will handle it, and we don't believe it will inconvenience him," said a Godolphin spokesman.

Aidan O'Brien confirmed yesterday that his three entries, Saratoga Springs, Risk Material and Desert Fox, will run in the Derby, although apart from Walter Swinburn's booking for Saratoga Springs, definite riding arrangements have yet to be finalised.