Durcan Happy With ´Bouncing´ Salford

Ted Durcan expressed delight at the well-being of his Vodafone Derby mount Salford Mill ? but holds reservations over the likely soft ground.

David Elsworth´s charge was reported to have worked 'brilliantly' on Wednesday but connections are praying for no more rain at Epsom.

'He´s a lovely ride and is a big, strong horse. Mr Elsworth is really happy with his work,' said Durcan.

'If it ended up being soft that would be a slight worry but he´s a lovely ride to have and it´s a wide-open race. There´s 19 runners so you need to have some luck.

'I´m in the 11 stall. It´s perfect so I´m happy with that.

'He´s a horse that´s been brought along slowly and he´s starting to peak at the right moment.

'I´ve ridden him in his work and he´s absolutely bouncing.'

None of the 19 confirmations at the five-day stage were taken out so Authorized will face a field one short of the 20-runner maximum.

Peter Chapple-Hyam believes Authorized is heading to the Vodafone Derby with a better chance than Dr Devious in 1992 ? and he won the race.

The ebullient trainer has exuded confidence since the colt won the Racing Post Trophy last October and nothing has happened in the interim to quell that optimism.

Authorized turned up for the Dante Stakes at York ? the best Derby trial in recent years ? and put up a scintillating performance that had the bookmakers running for cover.

The colt is set to be sent off the first odds-on favourite for the Classic since Sir Michael Stoute´s Entrepreneur in 1997.

Chapple-Hyam will not want a similar outcome, however, as Stoute´s charge could only finish fourth behind Benny The Dip.

'I can´t wait for the race. I´ve been planning for it since last Christmas,' said Chapple-Hyam.

'He probably goes there with as good a chance as I have ever had ? better than Dr Devious, who won it.

'All things being equal, he will be there or thereabouts. His preparations could not have gone better ? they´ve gone perfectly so far, touch-wood.

'If the ground were to come up soft I would not be that worried as he´ll go on it, although I would not want too much more rain.

'I don´t think the course will hold too many fears for him. You need to be able to travel well and he does as he showed at both Newbury and York ? and he has the ability to quicken off a fast pace,' the Newmarket handler told www.peterchapplehyam.com.

Bookmakers William Hill are praying something will come to beat the mount of Frankie Dettori, who is still searching for his first Derby success.

'The man (Dettori) is a menace,' said William Hill spokesman David Hood.

'Without exception, every housewife in Europe will want the pint-sized Italian stallion to break his Derby duck on Saturday.'

(C) PA Sport