Epicentre out of French Derby John Gosden`s Epicentre was among eight withdrawals as the field for the French Derby (Prix du-Jockey Club) was reduced to 16 at the second acceptance stage today.Aidan O`Brien accounted for the bulk of these by withdrawing five as he narrowed his options to Diaghilev, Black Sam Bellamy, the pacemaking Temple of Artemis and Castle Gandolfo.Castle Gandolfo holds an alternative entry in the other group one event on the Chantilly Sunday card, the Prix Jean Prat.The field for the French Classic should be boosted at tomorrow`s supplementary stage by at least one as the Mark Johnston-trained Simeon is expected to be added at a cost of €60,000.The Gerald Leigh-owned Act One, the unbeaten Prix Lupin winner and likely favourite, and the Aga Khan`s Prix Hocquart scorer Khalkevi are among the key acceptors.The others are Martaline, Alvarinho, Polities, Without Connexion, Louveteau, Sulamani, Tau Ceti, Shaanmer, Great Pretender and Le Fou.Shaanmer, in common with Castle Gandolfo, also holds an entry in the Prix Jean Prat entry for which there were 11 acceptors. They include Mick Channon`s Aramram and Godolphin`s Imtiyaz.The O`Brien entries, Castle Gandolfo apart, are Della Francesca, Nostradamus and Creekview.The Group Two Prix du Gros Chene over five furlongs could come under attack from two smart British fillies - John Dunlop`s Massarra and Gerard Butler`s Swiss Lake.The fourth Group event on the card, the Prix de Sandringham, has Rae Guest`s Lady Lindsay amongst its nine acceptors.
