It is 109 years since the legendary Orby became the first Irish -trained winner of the Investec Epsom Derby and nine entries from Ireland remain in contention to become the 19th from this country to land the world's most coveted classic on Saturday.
With Vincent O’Brien’s iconic Derby tally of six victories firmly in his sights, Aidan O’Brien is keeping his options open and has seven of the 18 entries left in Saturday’s highlight after a forfeit stage that saw four horses supplemented into the race at a cost of almost €100,000 each.
The additional funds make this Derby the richest race ever run in Britain. But prizemoney pales in comparison to the prestige of winning racing's 'blue riband' and one of the supplementary entries, Wings Of Desire, shares 4-1 joint-favouritism with O'Brien's US Army Ranger in most betting lists.
Jockey plans for the Ballydoyle team have yet to be finalised but with at least one of the Derby entries, Bravery, likely to switch to Sunday's Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly, O'Brien could have up to half a dozen starters at Epsom.
Forecast rain
That may contribute to the largest Derby field since Sir Percy beat 17 opponents in 2006 although the final make up of the Derby could yet be influenced by forecast rain due to hit Epsom in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Dermot Weld has kept open the option of running his Ballysax Stakes winner Harzand and is anxious that ground conditions don't get too quick for the son of 2009 Derby hero, Sea The Stars.
The going to Epsom has been officially “good” and “good to firm in places” in recent days.
Jim Bolger, a Derby winner with New Approach in 2008, will rely on the Derrinstown winner Moonlight Magic who is set to carry the Godolphin colours which will also be carried by the supplemented French hope, Cloth Of Stars.
The two other supplementary additions are the Lingfield Trial winner Humphrey Bogart and the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Verdon. Last year's winner Golden Horn was supplemented into the race at the five day forfeit stage.
Aidan O’Brien famously pulled off a momentous Group One Epsom hat-trick in 2012 with Camelot (Derby,) Was (Oaks) and St Nicholas Abbey (Coronation Cup) all winning.
This week, as well as Minding, who is a general odds-on favourite for Friday’s Oaks, the Irishman has also indicated Found could return to action in Saturday’s Coronation Cup and a likely clash with the Roger Varian-trained Postponed.
Filly challenge
The latter tops most betting lists for the older-horse highlight but faces a major filly challenge with both last year’s St Leger winner, Simple Verse, and the Juddmonte victor, Arabian Queen, among ten still in the list of possibles.
The 2014 Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll makes his debut over fences at Ballinrobe this evening against another former high class hurdler in So Young. Both horses could be trumped on the quick going however by the more experienced Rock On Fruity under Barry Geraghty.
