Fortune favours Winkle pick

Jimmy Fortune has expressed his glee about winning Saturday's golden ticket on Rip Van Winkle in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.After Johnny Murtagh last week failed in an appeal to reduce a ban incurred on Kayf Aramis at Royal Ascot, the mount on Aidan O'Brien's colt became available to one lucky jockey.Fortune told Teletext: "It's great news - I'm delighted. With Johnny suspended the ride was available, and my agent rang me up with the news on Tuesday morning."Murtagh has partnered Rip Van Winkle on each of his five starts, winning twice as a two-year-old and picking him above other O'Brien horses to finish fourth to Eclipse opponent Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.Fortune has only ridden for O'Brien a handful of times in recent seasons, and without success. But when Murtagh was banned for the last two days of the Royal meeting, he was entrusted with the stable's Beethoven in the Chesham Stakes, steering him to fourth.Fortune added: "Dropping back to a mile and a quarter should suit him and I should think he has a great chance - I'm very hopeful."