Aidan O'Brien aims for a fourth classic of the year with Milan lining up for tomorrow's French Derby and the Ballydoyle trainer is expecting improvement from the colt's previous French expedition.

That was in last month's Prix Lupin when Milan was a fast finishing third to Chichicastenango and Anabaa Blue but hopes are still high the Sadler's Wells colt can succeed in the Prix du Jockey Club where O'Brien's runners, Ciro and Saratoga Springs, failed.

"Milan has been very well since the Lupin and you would imagine he will have learned a lot from the race. It was the first time Michael (Kinane) had ridden him and it was his first time in a competitive race. The going should not be a problem. Michael said he handled the good ground at Longchamp very well," said O'Brien, who will run the unbeaten King Of Tara in the Group One Prix Jean Prat on the same card.

The favourite for the 14-runner Derby is likely to be the Prix Greffulhe and Prix Hocquart winner Maille Pistol. A strong home team will also include last year's top juvenile Okawango.

There are three British runners with Jamie Spencer on Godolphin's Musha Merr accompanying Sydenham (Richard Hughes) and Grandera (Michael Hills).

A busy domestic weekend begins at Cork this afternoon where O'Brien and Kinane team up for the debut of the Storm Cat colt Merchant Of Venice in the sprint maiden. They should also be key players in the mile and a quarter conditions race with Hans Anderson.

The short-price backers could be out in force for the seven-furlong maiden where Jim Bolger's runner Martin Gunne can get off the mark at the third time of asking, having finished in the middle of a blanket finish at Tipperary last time.

At Downpatrick, Golden Bar returns after a long absence in the hunters chase but that didn't stop him putting in a fine effort off a similar preparation in last year's renewal and he can go one better.