Jan Vermeer

Sure, everyone likes Jan Vermeer now, three hundred-plus years after the seventeenth century Dutch artist's death, but most art dealers want little to do with artists who can only produce two or three paintings a year -- Vermeer created fewer than 40 in his lifetime.

Daniel Grant: The Art World's Slowpokes Daniel Grant 2011

Sure, everyone likes Jan Vermeer now, three hundred-plus years after the seventeenth century Dutch artist's death, but most art dealers want little to do with artists who can only produce two or three paintings a year -- Vermeer created fewer than 40 in his lifetime.

Daniel Grant: The Art World's Slowpokes Daniel Grant 2011

If you fancy Midas Touch or Jan Vermeer, it should be no more than mildly disconcerting that he has rejected them.

Talking Horses 2010

Brien could run Jan Vermeer, Midas Touch and At First Sight• Injury to long-time favourite could cost ante-post punters £3m

Cape Blanco to join St Nicholas Abbey in missing the Derby 2010

Monterosso has taken over at the head of the market from Cape Blanco, who had been favourite since Johnny Murtagh chose him over Jan Vermeer.

Talking Horses 2010

There doesn't seem to be much between them but my suspicion is that Jan Vermeer could have done better if he wasn't settled so far behind the other live runners.

Talking Horses 2010

Johnny Murtagh, Ballydoyle's stable jockey and a three-time winner of the race, has yet to decide on his partner, and while he rode the 6-1 chance Rip Van Winkle in last year's Derby rather than Fame And Glory, the 9-4 favourite, it will be a major surprise if he does not opt for Jan Vermeer.

Cape Blanco to join St Nicholas Abbey in missing the Derby 2010

If Cape Blanco does run in France on Sunday, O'Brien's six-strong entry after Monday's penultimate declaration stage is likely to be reduced to three, with Jan Vermeer, the favourite, and Midas Touch, the winner of Leopardstown's main Derby trial, joined by At First Sight, expected to act as pacemaker.

Cape Blanco to join St Nicholas Abbey in missing the Derby 2010

There is still no word from Aidan O'Brien's stable to confirm running or riding plans for his Epsom team but Jan Vermeer is no bigger than 2-1 with the bookies in the expectation that Johnny Murtagh, O'Brien's stable jockey, will be aboard the Gallinule Stakes winner on Saturday.

St Nicholas Abbey continues to drift in Derby betting market 2010

There have been few ante-post setbacks to match it in recent seasons, and victory for the new O'Brien-trained favourite, Jan Vermeer, would be a relative "skinner" for the layers in ante-post terms as he was barely on the punters 'radar until his win in the Gallinule Stakes 10 days ago.

Cape Blanco to join St Nicholas Abbey in missing the Derby 2010