Aidan O’Brien retains a firm grip on the market for Saturday’s Derby at Epsom following the declaration of a final field of 13 for the Classic on Thursday morning, when Ryan Moore and Donnacha O’Brien, the trainer’s son, were booked to ride Sir Dragonet and Broome, the favourite and second-favourite, respectively.
Telecaster, the Dante Stakes winner at York earlier this month, is the only horse from outside the O’Brien stable shorter than 9-1 in the betting, while Circus Maximus, another of Ballydoyle’s seven runners in the race, is generally 16-1 (from 25-1 overnight) after Frankie Dettori was confirmed as his jockey.
Moore will be aiming for a third win in the Classic on Sir Dragonet, who is still available at 3-1 in places but generally an 11-4 chance. Donnacha O’Brien, meanwhile, will be aiming to take advantage of what may well be the best chance he will ever get to emulate his older brother, Joseph, who was successful on Camelot and Australia in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
Increasing weight forced Joseph O’Brien to retire from race-riding at the age of just 22 and his younger brother, who will be 21 in July, expects to face similar problems in the near future. Donnacha O’Brien has already taken this year’s 2,000 Guineas on Magna Grecia and Broome will be on offer at around 9-2 when he goes to post at Epsom on Saturday.
Dettori’s booking for an O’Brien-trained runner is a rarity as John Gosden, who retains him, would expect to have a fancied runner in most major races. The Italian enjoyed a Classic winner for O’Brien in 2005, however, when Scorpion took the St Leger at Doncaster.
“I spoke to Aidan O’Brien this morning and the horse will wear cheek-pieces just to sharpen him up a little bit,” Dettori said on Thursday, “because he is very laid-back. One thing we do know is that he stays really well. If you look at his Futurity form [at Doncaster last October] he is red hot with Magna Grecia and [the recent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner] Phoenix Of Spain.
“You can make a case about most of the runners, but I’m pleased with mine, who will most definitely stay the trip.”
Full draw:
1 Line of Duty
2 Telecaster
3 Hiroshima
4 Sovereign
5 Circus Maximus
6 Madhmoon
7 Anthony Van Dyck
8 Broome
9 Humanitarian
10 Norway
11 Japan
12 Bangkok
13 Sir Dragonet
The Derby meeting opens on Friday when 14 fillies are due to go to post for the Oaks, headed by O’Brien’s Pink Dogwood on 11-4 and Gosden’s Mehdaayih at 3-1. At current odds of around 6-1, though, it may pay to take a chance that Maqsad will see out the 12-furlong trip after a deeply impressive success in the 10-furlong Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket last time.
Maqsad’s sire, Siyouni, was a miler but her dam was by Galileo, a Derby winner, and drying ground at Epsom should also be in her favour for Friday’s Classic.
Thursday’s best bets
The pick of Thursday’s action is at Sandown Park, where Fox Leicester (7.05) is sure to go close for Andrew Balding and King Power Racing, who have high hopes for Bangkok in Saturday’s Derby.
The three-year-old was a little disappointing over this course and distance last time out but that was in a Class 2 event and barely a week after a more promising performance on his handicap debut. This race is two rungs down the ladder and gives him an obvious chance to return to winning form.
Rowland Ward (6.30) improved significantly to get off the mark at the fourth attempt at Doncaster in late April and should continue his progress off a 6lb higher mark, while Parknacilla (3.20) and Regimented (3.30) have obvious chances on the cards at Yarmouth and Lingfield Park, respectively.
Lingfield Park
2.00 Mistress Nellie 2.30 Cafe Espresso 3.00 Dubai Philosopher 3.30 Regimented 4.00 Poetic Motion 4.30 Calippo 5.00 Dashed
Wetherby
2.10 Rebel Soldier Boy 2.40 Mokammal 3.10 Maulesden May 3.40 Frankelio 4.10 Makawee 4.40 Macs Blessings 5.10 Antico Lady 5.50 Misscarlet
Yarmouth
2.20 John Clare 2.50 Herman Hesse 3.20 Parknacilla 3.50 Hard Toffee 4.20 Velorum 4.50 Dragon Sun 5.20 Hi Ho Silver
Carlisle
5.05 Stars In The Night 5.40 Gallaside 6.10 Three Castles 6.45 Skyman 7.15 Stone Mason 7.50 Beaufort 8.20 Corton Lad 8.50 Banksy's Art
Sandown Park
5.55 Divine Covey 6.30 Rowland Ward (nap) 7.05 Fox Leicester (nb) 7.35 Sameem 8.10 Maiden Castle 8.40 Hallalulu
Carlisle
1.10 Dubai Station 1.40 Sapphire Jubilee 2.15 Timetodock 2.50 Lady Calcaria 3.25 True Destiny 4.00 Buriram 4.45 Banksy's Art 5.20 Ishebayorgrey
Wolverhampton
1.50 Perfect Swiss 2.25 Pocket Warrior 3.00 King Of The Sand 3.35 Calling Out 4.10 Queen Penn 4.55 Fragrant Belle 5.30 Imperial Act
Epsom
2.00 Misty Grey 2.35 Firmament 3.10 Old Persian (nap) 3.45 Jazeel 4.30 Maqsad (nb) 5.15 Space Blues 5.50 Corazon Espinado
Stratford-On-Avon
5.45 Earth Leader 6.20 Bletchley Castle 6.50 Casey Jem 7.20 Virak 7.50 Caryto Des Brosses 8.20 Sam Cavallaro 8.50 Equus Gold
Doncaster
6.00 Ambient 6.30 Assembled 7.00 Production 7.30 Tommy Taylor 8.00 Dizzy G 8.30 Mystiquestar 9.00 What Will Be
Chelmsford City
6.10 Hidden Dream 6.40 Archdeacon 7.10 First Voyage 7.40 Zac Brown 8.10 Johnny Reb 8.40 Cappananty Con 9.10 Rock In Society
