No Surprises In Derby Field

Authorized heads 19 confirmations for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

The colt is a hot favourite to give jockey Frankie Dettori his first victory in the world-famous Classic after gaining an impressive success in the Dante Stakes.

Peter Chapple-Hyam's charge romped home by four lengths on his seasonal debut in the Group Two contest at York and he will bid to give the trainer his second Derby win after Dr Devious in 1992.

Aidan O'Brien, successful with Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), still has eight in the race ? Acapulco, Admiralofthefleet, Anton Chekhov, Archipenko, Eagle Mountain, Mahler, Soldier Of Fortune and Yellowstone.

His one withdrawal is Chinese Whisper while Saeed bin Suroor may rely on Eastern Anthem after Godolphin withdrew Jalil and Mythical Kid.

There were no supplementary entries after John Gosden decided against adding Dante runner-up Raincoat to the field.

He is likely to take his chance in the French version instead but Gosden could still be represented by Lucarno.

Marcus Tregoning, successful 12 months ago with Sir Percy, relies on Aqaleem, while Sir Michael Stoute's sole representative is Arabian Gulf.

Other notable entries include Regime, Salford Mill and Strategic Prince.

Aqaleem attempts to be the first Lingfield Derby Trial winner to go on to glory at Epsom since High-Rise in 1998.

And Tregoning believes the rain-softened ground will not be an inconvenience.

'The soft ground shouldn't trouble him. He is out of a Sadler's Wells mare,' he said.

'Bear in mind he did beat the favourite as a two-year-old. I know it was very early in their careers but it is slightly encouraging he was able to do that.

'He ran a very solid race at Lingfield. He seems to be in very good form so we are pretty hopeful of a huge run from him.

'Aqaleem and Authorized are going to stay very well and I think the Derby is going to be about horses who have class and stamina.

'Richard (Hills) thinks the Lingfield experience will have sharpened him a lot. Having come down a hill he will be a lot better this time.

'A horse like Authorized travels really well and that will help him cope with the hill, I would have thought.

'Whether he will cope with the other interesting aspects such as the contours though is another thing. We are about to find out and it should be a very exciting race.

'It would be wonderful for myself and Richard to win it for Sheikh Hamdan. He's been a very loyal supporter,' he told At The Races.

The other acceptors are Kid Mambo, Leander and Petara Bay.

The weekend's rain has prompted Stan James to cut Authorized to 5-6 from 10-11.

'Although there could be some respite on Thursday, it seems rain is forecast for much of the remainder of the week and that can only be music to the ears of Authorized's trainer,' said media and on-course representative Neil Morrice.

'The colt looks sure to have conditions rank in his favour and is as near a racing certainty as you could devise to go off at odds-on come Saturday.'

In other Derby moves, the Wantage-based firm eased Salford Mill to 14-1 from 12s, while Strategic Prince is on the slide and is now a 16-1 chance (from 14s).

Vodafone Derby, Stan James bet: 5-6 Authorized, 9-1 Archipenko, 10-1 Aqaleem, 14-1 Regime, Salford Mill, Soldier Of Fortune, Eagle Mountain, 16-1 Strategic Prince, Admiralofthefleet.

(C) PA Sport