TODAY'S DUBAI Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh was being billed as the big rematch between the Epsom winner and runner-up, New Approach and Tartan Bearer. However, even before the doubt over New Approach's participation, I had a feeling that this 1.5 million contest would not be a two-horse race.

A look back at the tape of the Derby at Epsom would certainly push you in the direction of thinking that Ryan Moore on Tartan Bearer would probably have ridden a different race if he hadn't assumed, like everyone else, that New Approach couldn't possibly win after the way he ran with the choke out for the first few furlongs.

Come this afternoon's clash of, hopefully, the big two, as well as the Epsom third Casual Conquest, the Sir Michael Stoute team will be more than hopeful that their horse will gain his revenge on the Jim Bolger-trained winner.

However, there is another animal which was out with the washing at Epsom which may well be much more involved when the whips are cracking inside the final, decisive quarter mile today. Luca Cumani's Curtain Call was given a strange ride at Epsom by Jamie Spencer. A guaranteed stayer with the form in the book to go close, Curtain Call came there with his run, faltered ever so slightly and was then allowed to come home in his own time without ever getting competitive.

Watching live, the assumption had to be he wasn't good enough, but the more you re-run the tape, you wonder what could have been going through the jockey's mind. In no way did Curtain Call look a spent force when his then position in the race was seemingly accepted as being as good as it was going to get.

Nothing was said in public at the time but eyebrows were raised on the Newmarket gallops last weekend when Curtain Call's last piece of work before Ireland was ridden by Frankie Dettori, a close friend of Cumani's and a jockey not even available to ride today due to a suspension which he didn't bother to appeal.

A couple of anoraks then discovered that Spencer had not had a single ride for Cumani since The Derby, an unusual state of affairs given that he had hitherto ridden for the trainer when available. That little stat changed when Spencer rode a horse for Cumani at Doncaster yesterday but on Wednesday it had been announced that Fran Berry, the jockey who rode Curtain Call for previous trainer Jessica Harrington last season, would partner him again at The Curragh.

Cumani and his owners believe they have a Derby horse and with track and ground conditions in his favour today, expect a huge run at an each-way price, although I'd be amazed (and delighted) if he was allowed to go off at the 16/1 he's been trading at for most of last week.

SPAIN gAIN LAST year's Irish Derby was run in the kind of biblical downpour which once had Noah reaching for his toolbox (I know because my linen suit has never recovered) and the same kind of weather seems to have been afflicting just about every match I've seen in Euro 2008.

My early success in backing Portugal at a hugely generous 11/8 to win their group has long been forgotten as I've been stupidly opposing the Germans and the Spanish all the way. Now that they meet in tonight's final, I'm happy to swallow any pride I have left and back Spain to end all those years of false promise and win a tournament they have lit up, along with Holland and Russia.

After that, it's heads down and time to start working out which teams will provide the pre-season value in the various domestic leagues, a task which can prove to be very profitable if you're happy to take a long-term view for a bit of extra value.

Fear not that you have to address these issues with any great urgency though, despite one Sunday red-top screaming last weekend, "Season countdown, only 48 days to go". Factually accurate, but the only flaw was that the last season was only 36 days past.

As with Christmas, it will all come round soon enough.

BRILLIANT BAKER HAVING watched jockey George Baker getting legged up on to a juvenile in the last race on day one of Royal Ascot, I could only wonder how such a tall man could ply his trade in the world of Flat racing. Having then watched him ride four winners at Newmarket last Saturday, I could see why. Balance and timing, brilliant. He may face a constant battle with the scales but when it comes to giving a horse every chance to win a race, Baker's skills can't be questioned.

He would also appear to have a super fan out there as one punter in north-east England won £91,386 for a £17 stake on his four Newmarket winners (from five rides) at 12/1, 11/1, 14/1 and 5/1.

I can't match that I'm afraid but two to follow from last week are Tuesday night's Newbury winner Samara Valley, which holds a Group One entry in Ireland this season and Wednesday's Salisbury winner, Candela Bay. Both look very progressive fillies which are sure to be well placed to win again by Henry Cecil and Willie Haggas.