FIRST AID MISSION
O’Brien’s bold bid for Derby record
AIDAN O’BRIEN has entered seven of the 17 runners in Saturday’s Investec Derby as he bids to become the race’s most successful trainer.
O’Brien, who enjoyed a record 14th Irish Derby win last Saturday with Santiago, shares the honour of training seven English Derby winners with Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling.
O’Brien’s best hopes seem to rest with Betfair’s 13-2 third favourite Russian Emperor, and 7-1 shots Mogul andVatican City.
If O’Brien (above) does run all his entries it will fall just one short of the eight he ran in 2007.
As expected, Andrew Balding’s Kameko, the 2,000 Guineas winner and 7-2 second favourite, also stands his ground along with stablemate Khalifa Sat. Royal Ascot hero Pyledriver, William Muir’s first Derby runner, will be ridden by Martin Dwyer, who steered Sir Percy to victory in 2006.
Ben Curtis will have his first crack at the Classic when he partners another Royal Ascot winner Highland Chief for the Paul and Oliver Cole partnership.
English King, the mount of Frankie Dettori, heads the betting at 9-4.
Dettori, seeking a third Derby success, also partners Frankly Darling, the Oaks second favourite on the same card, and will be reunited with Enable in Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse on Sunday.
The winner of last year’s race will face a tough task with Ghaiyyath, Lord North, Japan and Magic Wand all expected to run.