Johnny Murtagh will partner Alessandro Volta in Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, in preference to Washington Irving, who finished one place ahead of his stablemate in the Derby.

Murtagh put all five of trainer Aidan O'Brien's colts through their paces on Wednesday morning and plumped for Alessandro Volta, on the basis that he believes the son of Montjeu, who finished a short-head behind Washington Irving - who was fifth - at Epsom, will be well suited by the Curragh.

Murtagh, who opted to ride 12th-placed King Of Rome at Epsom, and who will bid for a third Irish Derby winner this weekend, said: "I have decided to ride Alessandro Volta as I thought he ran very well to finish sixth in the Derby, and I think the Curragh track will suit him better than Epsom did."

Seamie Heffernan, who rode Alessandro Volta at Epsom and who won last year's Irish Derby on Soldier Of Fortune, partners Frozen Fire, the Dante Stakes runner-up who finished only 11th at Epson, while Colm O'Donoghue will again be on board Washington Irving.

David McCabe will ride Hindu Kush, with Seanie Leavy partnering recent Down Royal maiden winner Bashkirov.

Declarations for Sunday's Classic are made this morning. New Approach is odds-on favourite to confirm his Epsom superiority with Tartan Bearer and Casual Conquest in what adds up to a mouthwatering rematch.

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