Favourite English King heads seventeen entries for the Derby

ANTE-POST FAVOURITE English King is among 17 entries for Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.

The mile-and-a-half Classic finds itself in an unusual position on the calendar this year, coming a month later than normal and after both Royal Ascot and the Irish Derby, because of the late start to the campaign.

That will not matter one iota to the winning connections come this weekend, though – and for Ed Walker, trainer of Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King, it would be the realisation of a childhood ambition.

“Anyone who says they don’t think about winning the Derby is surely lying,” said Walker.

“I’ve been thinking about it since I discovered horse racing when I was 13 years old, so of course you think about it in this position.

“It would be a great day if it happened.

Aidan O’Brien had considered turning Irish Derby winner Santiago out again quickly after he added to his Royal Ascot win at the Curragh, but his name was not on the list.

Instead the seven possible Ballydoyle runners are another Ascot winner in Russian Emperor, Irish Guineas runner-up Vatican City, Mogul, Amhran Na Bhfiann, Armory, Mythical and Serpentine.

Andrew Balding’s Kameko was a clear-cut winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and he takes a leap up in trip, with stablemate and Goodwood winner Khalifa Sat also set to take his chance.

Pyledriver, Highland Chief, Emissary, Gold Maze, Max Vega, Mohican Heights and Worthily complete the 17.

Love, winner of the 1000 Guineas, heads 11 entries for the Investec Oaks at Epsom the same day. The daughter of Galileo has headed the ante-post market since her impressive victory by four and a quarter lengths over the Rowley Mile.

O’Brien’s other fillies in the mix are the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Peaceful, Ennistymon and Passion, who were second and third respectively in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot.

Love’s main market rival is the Ribblesdale winner Frankly Darling, trained by John Gosden. Tiempo Vuela is a second entry from the Gosden stable.

Roger Varian has Gold Wand and Queen Daenerys, while the 11 is completed by Bharani Star (Peter Chapple-Hyam), Dubai Love (Saeed bin Suroor) and Oriental Mystique (David Simcock).

Owners will be allowed to attend race meetings from July 4, the British Horseracing Authority has announced, so those involved at Epsom should see their horses run.