O'Connell lands dream Derby date to mix it with the best at Epsom

O'Connell, 22, said he had turned down rides at Hexham's National Hunt meeting to experience the thrill of a lifetime.

No-hoper Maidstone Mixture is believed to be the only hurdler to have a crack at the Derby, having won at Strasbourg over jumps last month for his old French trainer Richard Chotard.

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Authorized leads them round Tattenham Corner 12 months ago

Victory on Lucky Nellerie in the Yorkshire National at Catterick in January is the biggest race won by Naas-born O'Connell, who has had just over 50 rides on the Flat.

He is based with North Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy, father of Maidstone Mixture's trainer, Paul.

O'Connell said: "PJ McDonald was due to ride it and he got tied up with links to his boss (Alan Swinbank). Paul asked me to ride and I didn't know at first whether they were taking the mick but they were pretty serious.

'I spoke to my agent and he thought it was a good opportunity. I'll be looking to ride a bit on the Flat this summer and I've been looking after my weight.

'I could have gone to Hexham for three or four rides but there is a lot of difference between that and riding in the Derby, so it wasn't a hard decision to make."

Maidstone Mixture is still a maiden and his modest ability has inevitably led to questions about his participation in a 17-runner field where traffic problems will be a big danger.

He runs in the colours of Kent-based millionaire Fergus Wilson, whose rank outsiders have been frequent runners in recent runnings of the big races at the Cheltenham Festival.

O'Connell added: "A lot of people are giving out and saying he shouldn't be running but I have just been asked to ride him and it is a marvelous chance so I jumped at it.

'I'm not a stupid rider and won't get in people's way. I know what kind of race it is and what it means to all these big owners and trainers.

'I've been to The Curragh for Irish Derby day but I have never been to Epsom. I imagine it will be a bit like Cheltenham where I have ridden so I am used to the big atmosphere."

Adding an extra twist to O'Connell's Derby break is the fact that he has had only two rides since serving a short spell in prison.

In April, he was given a 90-day sentence after being found guilty of driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance in May last year.

The jockey, who also had a brush with the authorities earlier this year over his use of the whip resulting in a 20-day ban, said: "I was in prison for a couple of weeks. I came out a month ago and then went back to Ireland for a couple of weeks.

"I've had great help from Ferdy and my agent. What's done is done and is behind me now. Hopefully, it is onwards and upwards now."