Aidan O’Brien aims for Epsom Derby full house

It is perhaps the most glaring omission on Aidan O'Brien's big-race CV but Ireland's champion trainer will again venture to Chantilly this Sunday to try to secure an elusive French Derby success.

The man who has notched a record 11 wins in the Irish Derby, and who could match his Ballydoyle predecessor, Vincent O’Brien, by landing a sixth Epsom Derby on Saturday, has in contrast endured nothing but frustration in the €1.5 million Prix Du Jockey Club.

His first starter, Saratoga Springs, finished fourth in 1998, while Westphalia finished third to Le Havre in 2009. Gradual progression continued last year when Highland Reel lost out to New Bay.

O’Brien’s principal Derby focus has always been on Epsom and he could have up to half-a-dozen runners in racing’s ‘blue-riband’ prize, including the 4/1 ante-post favourite, US Army Ranger.

Historic

He features among 10 Ballydoyle names left among 27 remaining in the historic French prize, run over an extended 10 furlongs since 2005, and which has been without an Irish-trained winner since Assert and Caerleon recorded victories in 1982 and 1983.

O’Brien has indicated that Bravery, bred by him and his wife Annemarie, who remains part of the ownership of the Galileo colt, is a likely starter at Chantilly but other possible running plans are as yet unclear.

Bravery is one of seven O’Brien horses who remain in both the Derby at Epsom and Chantilly. Another is Idaho, as low as 16/1 in some lists for Epsom, who is a brother to last year’s Chantilly runner-up, Highland Reel.

The Jockey Club is the third of three major European classics in three days, starting with Friday’s Oaks, for which O’Brien’s 1,000 Guineas heroine, Minding, is the favourite.

One definite overseas starter at Chantilly will be John Gosden's Foundation, who will attempt to provide Frankie Dettori with a fourth win in the race he first won on Polytain in 1992.

Other likely British-trained starters are Ventura Storm and Robin Of Navan, a Group One winner in France last year who finished runner up to the major Epsom Derby fancy, Cloth Of Stars, in the Prix Greffule.

Joseph O’Brien rode Highland Reel into second for his father in last year’s Jockey Club and the former champion jockey is expected to officially have his first runners as a trainer as early as Monday. O’Brien has been training a dual-purpose string from his Piltown base and a meeting with the Turf Club on Friday is expected to rubber-stamp his licence.

In other Turf Club news, trainer Denis Hogan will appeal the 10-day dangerous riding ban he picked up after riding Misdflight in a handicap hurdle at Down Royal last Friday. Misdflight was disqualified from first and placed last.