Punters continue to go for Vodafone Derby favourite King's Best with both William Hill and Coral reporting money for the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas winner, who has been shortened to 7 to 2 from 4 to 1 and 4 to 1 from 5 to 1 respectively for Epsom.
And Gerard Butler has a healthy respect for King's Best as the Blewbury trainer prepares Saddler's Quest for the premier Classic.
Saddler's Quest staked his claim for Epsom with a game neck victory over Going Global in the Gartner Derby Trial at Lingfield Park earlier this month.
"He's in very good shape," Butler said yesterday. "We'll do a piece of work with him tomorrow.
"The Derby is very open this year. King's Best is a Classic winner and will be hard to beat. Hopefully, if there is a chink in his armour we are there to fill it."
Merry Merlin is not entered in the Derby but a bold showing in today's Compass UK Leisure Predominate Stakes could persuade connections to pay the £75,000 supplementary fee.
Michael Bell, the colt's trainer, said: "It is a nice problem to have to consider but we won't think about it until after tomorrow's race - there are too many ifs."
Henry Cecil is running out of time to get a prep-race into second favourite Beat Hollow, who was not among the entries made yesterday for the Rosehill Conditions Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.
Running plans for the son of Sadler's Wells were put on hold while the colt underwent treatment for mucus in his lungs but Cecil hopes to step Beat Hollow up in his work this week.
Tantalus, put into the Vodafone Derby at the second entry stage at a cost of £8,000, can show that it was money well spent by winning today's Predominate Stakes. Connections decided to go for broke after the son of Unfuwain made a winning debut at Doncaster in March. Trainer Barry Hills wasted no time in testing the water for he stepped Prince Khaled Abdulla's colt up in class for the Victor Chandler Chester Vase two weeks ago.
Tantalus looked like lifting the Group Three prize when he hit the front over a furlong out, but he was run out of it close home and had to settle for third place behind Millenary.
He can gain compensation and book his Epsom ticket with victory in this 10-furlong Listed event. Tantalus is currently 40 to 1 with Ladbrokes for the Derby.
Nicobar, a good winner under top weight at Chester last time, can follow up in the Tote Trifecta Stakes. Ian Balding's charge came with a strong run under Kieren Fallon to deny Camberley by three-quarters of a length in a highly-competitive 18-runner handicap over seven and a half furlongs.
He had earlier shaped well on his seasonal debut when third to Summoner in a conditions event over the straight mile at Doncaster in March, so the nine furlongs of this Showcase Handicap should not pose a problem.
Omaha City usually reserves his best form for Goodwood and can open his 2000 campaign in style with victory in the Newton Investments Management Handicap.
Brian Gubby's consistent six-year-old captured a handicap over today's course and distance under the welter burden of 10st last June and can continue his love affair with the Sussex track.
Last summer's Wokingham Stakes winner, Deep Space, can get off the mark this season by taking the Forest Alliance Conditions Stakes.
Ed Dunlop's sprinter showed that he could be set for another successful campaign when sixth to Cretan Gift in the Listed NGK Spark Plugs Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last month.
Latest Vodafone Derby betting: Ladbrokes: 3-1 King's Best, 5-1 Beat Hollow, 7-1 Sakhee, 8-1 Aristotle, 10-1 Sinndar, 16-1 Best Of The Bests, 20-1 Hattab, Kingsclere, Millenary, 25-1 bar.
Kieren Fallon was handed a four-day ban (May 31st to June 3rd) for careless riding at Bath yesterday after the stewards decided he was to blame for a pile-up in the concluding Levy Board Handicap.
