O`Brien odds-on to land Derby Aidan O`Brien`s apparent stranglehold on the Epsom Derby was emphasised yesterday by the long odds-on price being quoted about the Ballydoyle trainer winning Saturday`s big race. It is 2 to 5 with Cashmans that O`Brien will win his second successive Derby with one of his trio of colts, Hawk Wing, High Chaparral and Louisville.The last trainer to saddle the first two home in the Derby was Richard Carver with My Love and Royal Drake in 1948. The Derby also has a notable record of success for the fancied horses. The first or second favourite has won 24 of the last 36 runnings.Last year O`Brien completed the Oaks-Derby double with Imagine and Galileo and he will have four of the 14 runners in tomorrow`s fillies Classic as well. Michael Kinane is expected to be on the Irish Guineas runner-up Quarter Moon.Kinane will not welcome the news from the track concerning the state of the ground. The going has eased to good, good to soft in places after eight millimetres of rain fell yesterday. 'It`s been raining since 11 o`clock on and off and it keeps looking as though it`s going to come to an end,' said clerk of the course Andrew Cooper. Kinane said earlier in the week that he would partner Hawk Wing only if the ground was 'fast'. The 11-times Irish champion jockey may have to have a rethink as the forecast remains unsettled for the weekend. At the moment the Derby ground is described as 'good ground'.
