STOUTE IN ULYSSES DERBY DAZE

THE unstoppable Derby gamble on Ulysses has received the thumbs-up from trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Barely three weeks ago the colt was still a maiden and a 50-1 shot for Epsom, having been edged out on his seasonal reappearance at Leicester - now he’s down to 6-1 for Saturday’s showpiece.

Imperial Aviator, who beat him at Leicester, went on to hack up in the London Gold Cup at Newbury and is now being aimed at the French Derby.

Ulysses himself was a wide-margin winner of a maiden at the Berkshire course, after which Stoute - already a five-time Derby winner - gave him the go-ahead for Epsom.

Ryan Moore partnered him that day but as he’s committed to the Aidan O’Brien-trained US Army Ranger, the ride on Ulysses has been handed to Andrea Atzeni.

Stoute said “Ulysses is a really well-balanced athlete with an Epsom pedigree. We have always loved him.

“He had a hiccup in January and we did not have him fully fit when he went to Leicester but had to go there because we needed to get moving.

“But he has really pleased since then and could not have won his maiden any better.”