JOHNNY MURTAGH is uncertain whether Rip Van Winkle has the stamina to last the Derby distance.

Following an interrupted Classic preparation, Aidan O’Brien’s colt was fourth under Murtagh in Saturday’s 2000 Guineas, picking up well from an unpromising position.

But Ballydoyle already have a prime Derby candidate in Fame And Glory, and Murtagh was not sure whether Rip Van Winkle would be rivalling him at Epsom.

“He stayed on nicely and it was his first run – there is improvement there – and I don’t think an extra two furlongs would harm,” the jockey told At The Races.

“Newmarket is not the most straightforward track and I don’t think he handled it that great.

“He has a great cruising speed, but I don’t know if he’d stay a mile and a half.

“I’ll leave it to Aidan.”

Murtagh filled the same position in the 1000 Guineas aboard Heart Shaped.

“Heart Shaped ran very well,” he continued. “I thought I had a real chance at one point but the first two just stayed on and mine got a bit tired.”