Johnny Murtagh was out of luck on the eve of the Investec Derby, picking up a five days suspension aboard Frozen Fire in the Coronation Cup before finishing last on Perfect Truth in the Oaks.
The Ballydoyle stable jockey was found guilty of careless riding on Frozen Fire, who weakened back to finish fifth after making the running in the Coronation Cup. The ban rules him out of the final two days of Royal Ascot.
Perfect Truth also led in the Oaks but came under pressure a long way from home, and was beaten when hampered early in the straight - eventually trailing home last of the ten runners behind Sariska.
However Murtagh is looking forward to the premier classic tomorrow and believes Rip Van Winkle has all the right attributes for a potential Derby winner, although admits he would not be surprised if any of the Aidan O'Brien-trained sextet were to come home in front.
"I was pleased with his run in the Guineas (fourth) and I thought after that maybe the Derby would be the next race for him," Murtagh told At The Races.
"Aidan's prepared him for the Derby and his preparation has gone very well. He's going well at home, he's a horse I've always liked and is very high-class.
"There is a little doubt about whether he will get the trip but it's a nice doubt as you need to have that little bit of speed to travel round Epsom. I think he'll handle the track, cruise round and hopefully it will carry him to the last furlong.
"I don't think we've seen the best of him yet and when I rode him in the Tyros Stakes last year he gave me a great feel and I always thought he was a little bit special.
"He has to go and do it but there is no better stage that Epsom on June 6th.
"You need a horse with good balance, a horse with a bit of speed and I think he has everything a Derby horse needs.
"We need a bit of luck of running with a clear run and please God I'm on the right one.
"I'm going to ride him like he's the best horse, I believe he's the best horse, I believe he'll stay and I'm going to ride him like that.
"Fame And Glory won the Ballysax and the Derrinstown and has taken the nice trial route that Aidan likes to take with his Derby horses, so he's a very smart horse.
"Black Bear Island is a horse I like as well and he did it very well in the Dante as he galloped out well past me (on Freemantle) at the line.
"Age Of Aquarius has improved a lot, Golden Sword is a very strong, powerful stayer and Masterofthehorse has really impressed me in his work lately and has come on a lot.
"If Ballydoyle can win the race I'll be delighted and if I'm on the right one, it's a bonus.
"I said at the start of the season we had a very strong bunch of three-year-olds and of the six horses that run at Epsom, I wouldn't be surprised if any of them won."
O'Brien said: "It has been so far so good with Rip. He ran a real good race in the Guineas, we have been happy with him since. The horses have been coming forward from their first runs, so hopefully he will do so as well.
"The reality is that the Derby is a tough race, it is very demanding. A horse has to stay, handle undulations at speed, and have courage.
"The Derby horses have to come through their trials and be hard, and the best horse wins on the day."
O'Brien is odds-on to win the race but has not entertained the thought of saddling the first three home, although he had a one-two with High Chaparral and Hawk Wing in 2002.
He added: "I think that's really fantasy land - this is the Derby we are talking about and we are just very privileged to have the horses we have. Who knows what is going to happen - there are a lot of other horses in the race.
"We'll just be hoping the horses run well, and we'll be over the moon.
"I'd be wrong to say I had a soft spot for any of them - they are all what we think are very smart horses, and ran very good trials."
