Ballydoyle squad ready to roll

Aidan O'Brien anticipates improvement from his Ballydoyle battalion in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.Although his team has been reduced by the withdrawal of Hail Caesar, who has suffered a setback, the master trainer is still responsible for six of the intended 11 runners.Fame And Glory, who will be ridden by Johnny Murtagh, finished second in the Epsom Derby, while Masterofthehorse was third and Golden Sword fifth. Rockhampton, Byzantine and Drumbeat complete Ballydoyle's powerful line-up.O'Brien said: "The whole squad seems fine and they all seem to have come out of the last race well."I've been very happy with them since Epsom. In the last few years a lot of them have come on for their run since Epsom, and I hope that will be the same again. It will be interesting to see who comes forward the most."The Irish Derby is a special race - it's the most special three-year-old race of the season."The Classic has lost its major player, however, as Sea The Stars has been withdrawn on account of the rain-softened ground. Fame And Glory is the new favourite, with stablemate Masterofthehorse on the second line.