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Champion jockey to ride Derby runner-up at Curragh

Silvestre de Sousa will partner Dee Ex Bee in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday.

De Sousa guided the colt into second place behind Masar in the Investec Derby at Epsom and trainer Mark Johnston has again turned to the champion jockey after Dee Ex Bee was supplemented for the Classic on Tuesday.

William Buick had been in line to partner the Farhh colt, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

However, Buick will now be aboard Old Persian after Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation supplemented the Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old following his victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

Johnston told At The Races: “William Buick was going to ride him but with Charlie Appleby declaring another horse (Old Persian) we have switched back to Silvestre, the same jockey as in the Derby, so it couldn’t be better.

“Everything has been great since Epsom, perfect.

“Any rain would have suited us but, at the same time, we don’t think he needs it, so we’re happy to go.”