Sinndar can end Irish drought

It's 16 years since Secreto edged out El Gran Senor in an epic Epsom Derby, but today Sinndar promises to bridge the Irish gap in the world's most famous flat race.

Yesterday's shock defection of the 2,000 Guineas winner and long-time ante-post favourite King's Best was the most dramatic of a series of events which have just added fuel to the fire of confidence in both Sinndar and the other Irish-trained colt, Aristotle.

Almost immediately after Michael Stoute finally gave up on the muscle injury which left King's Best lame in his near hind leg, the heavens opened up depositing 7mm of rain.

It also deposited lots of egg on the faces of the Epsom authorities who, controversially, watered the track earlier in the week. The result is more than a hint of dig in the ground, and with showers again forecast for this morning, the first Derby of the Millennium will not be won by some fairweather galloper.

That will be music to the ears of Sinndar's trainer, John Oxx. His ability to produce champion fillies such as Ridgewood Pearl is matched only by his talent for not talking up his horses. As a result, Sinndar is the 49-year-old's first Derby runner in a 22-year career.

The Aga Khan-owned colt has been worth waiting for, because if there is such a thing as an Epsom package, then Sinndar looks to have it. He is a Group One-winning two-year-old; with an Irish Cesarewitch winner for a mother, he is almost certain to stay; and he comes to Epsom on the back of a highly rated defeat of Bach at Leopardstown that emphasised yet again Sinndar's taste for a fight.

It was enough to have the Aga dreaming of a fourth Epsom success and jockey Johnny Murtagh a first on just his fourth Derby ride. And it also had Oxx wondering if Sinndar is the best colt he has trained.

"I haven't had a Group One-winning three-year-old colt up to now, but I hope Sinndar might be the best I've had," said Oxx yesterday.

Unlike the connections of fast ground horses such as Best Of The Bests, Oxx wasn't perturbed by the prospects of more rain at Epsom.

"We have no real fears of the ground so it's not bad news, although it will suit the Sadlers Wells horses too," he said before adding: "Our horse looks to have enough tactical speed for the race, which is important. If a horse is on the bridle, he will travel well in the race and handle the track."

Aidan O'Brien was almost as relaxed as Aristotle, his much touted hope of a first Derby winner, and he quipped yesterday afternoon: "Aristotle is asleep at the moment and whenever he gets up we'll take him to Epsom!"

The new likely favourite is Beat Hollow, but it's undeniable that Henry Cecil's horses have had an interrupted preparation and that could catch him out, a comment that also applies to Wellbeing.

Sakhee's form has been knocked, but he will at least relish a stamina test, so his chance must be respected, as must Kingsclere's, who was very unlucky at Chester.

The fewest number of "ifs" and "shoulds" surround Sinndar's chance, however, and he can give the universally popular Oxx a first Derby winner at the first attempt.