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‘That’s hopefully the plan’

Knight To Behold is set to be ridden by Frankie Dettori in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday.

Lambourn trainer Harry Dunlop believes his charge can bounce back from a disappointing run in the Investec Derby, and has set about securing the services of Dettori, who rode four winners at Royal Ascot last week.

“We think Frankie Dettori will ride. It’s not completely confirmed, but that’s hopefully the plan.” said Dunlop.

The Sea The Stars colt had booked his place at Epsom by winning the Lingfield Derby Trial from Kew Gardens, who franked that form with victory in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.

“They went very quick early on at Epsom with the Ballydoyle pacemakers, and we got rather involved in that. Things just didn’t go quite to plan on a very stiff track,” said Dunlop.

“He’s in very good form and we are looking forward to Saturday.

“Richard Kingscote got off him last time and said Epsom didn’t really suit, and the Curragh should be much more his scene and much more of a galloping track.”

He went on: “He won at Newmarket when the ground was very fast and he didn’t seem to mind it.

“I’m sure there will be a good cover of grass and it should be OK. It’s wonderful the amount of money on offer and I feel it’s a race we ought to be targeting.

“We might ride him a bit differently. The main thing is to try to get him to relax and get home, which we felt wasn’t the case last time.

“He was doing a bit too much early on at Epsom, and we will try and ride him a bit more conservatively.”