STRAWBERRY ROAN is set to be supplemented tomorrow for Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh at a cost of £70,000. The unlucky runner-up in the Irish 1,000 Guineas will bid to follow in the footsteps of Balanchine in 1994 and Salsabil in 1990, two other fillies who were supplemented on the eve of the Irish Derby before winning Ireland's premier race.

Strawberry Roan's trainer Aidan O'Brien said yesterday: "She will work on Tuesday after which we will decide for definite. She's very well." The indications are however that Strawberry Roan will run in the Derby.

One colt she will not have to face is Entrepreneur who is set to miss the race. The flop Epsom Derby favourite worked on Saturday but trainer Michael Stoute said it is "highly unlikely" that Entrepreneur will try and get compensation at the Curragh.

The announcement that Benny The Dip will miss the Curragh and instead wait to clash with Bosra Sham in the Eclipse has made Silver Patriarch's position at the head of the ante-post market more solid but Strawberry Roan will not be the only Irish hope that will take him on.

Aidan O'Brien confirmed that his Gallinule Stakes winner Johan Cruyff will take his chance in the race and Dermot Weld could be double handed. Casey Tibbs, a disappointment in the French Derby, is an intended runner and Stage Affair, without a run this year, is also a possible.

Charles O'Brien will be represented by both Dr Johnson and Olympic Majesty while Kevin Prendergast will rely on Irish 2,000 Guineas runner up Verglas.

Meanwhile, John Dunlop yesterday played down any high expectations for English Derby runner-up Silver Patriarch.

His grey, beaten only a short-head at Epsom, heads the British challenge at the Curragh, with fifth-placed The Fly the only other Derby principal certain to join him.

But the trainer said: "I am hopeful that the track at the Curragh will suit him better than Epsom but I never have great confidence. But Silver Patriarch is absolutely still on course for the race.

"He hasn't done a great deal since the Derby but what he has done he has done very satisfactorily. He will do a good bit of work on Tuesday but so far all has gone well."

Benny The Dip's confirmation yesterday as a definite runner in the Coral Eclipse Stakes, ended any hopes of an appearance at the Curragh and a rematch with the horse he pipped in the English Derby, Silver Patriarch.

Discussions between American owner Landon Knight and trainer John Gosden concluded with a decision to bypass the Irish Derby in favour of a clash with Bosra Sham at Sandown on July 5th.

"I have spoken to the owner and Benny The Dip definitely runs in the Eclipse," Gosden said yesterday morning.

"I needed a decision about where he runs today to sort out his training programme. Mr Knight thinks he is a mile-and-a-quarter horse but I think he might be worth another try over a mile and a half in the right circumstances.

But it will be very soft ground in Ireland so he is going for the Eclipse. Benny The Dip has done just two breezing pieces of work since the Derby and he is fine."

Whether his Derby rider Willie Ryan retains the mount on Benny The Dip at Sandown will be decided nearer the time.