Vermeer heads Derby 12 Jan Vermeer heads a field of 12 for Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom. Only three horses were taken out at Thursday's final declaration stage and all of them trained by Aidan O'Brien namely St Nicholas Abbey, Cape Blanco and Bright Horizon. The master of Ballydoyle still has a strong hand in the colt's Classic with Midas Touch and At First Sight joining the favourite in the line-up. Dante Stakes runner-up Workforce heads the home defence along with Lingfield Trial winner Bullet Train and Dee Stakes hero Azmeel. Godolphin run three Rewilding, Al Zir and Buzzword while Chester Vase winner Ted Spread and Dante third Coordinated Cut and Hot Prospect complete the field. Johnny Murtagh is "very confident" ahead of his bid for Derby glory on Jan Vermeer. Murtagh has chosen to ride the impressive Gallinule Stakes winner as he bids to win the big race for a fourth time. Jan Vermeer was promoted to favouritism for the Epsom Classic late last week after news of a lacklustre workout by stablemate and previous market leader St Nicholas Abbey. And when that colt was discovered to have a slight muscle injury on Tuesday, Murtagh's choice became a whole lot easier. It pretty much boiled down to Jan Vermeer or Leopardstown Trial winner Midas Touch, with Murtagh plumping for the former. He told the Racing Post: "Like Jan Vermeer, Midas Touch is a very nice horse. The Derrinstown is always a good race and it was solidly run this year with a track record at the end of it. "I did pick Midas Touch over Jan Vermeer in France last year, but my lad has now beaten Midas Touch the twice he has met him, so that's what swayed me. "It's always a tough race with a lot of very good horses in it, but I'm very confident." Now his decision is made Murtagh is hoping the exciting Jan Vermeer will be good enough to add to his Derby wins on Sinndar, High Chaparral and Motivator. That eye-catching Gallinulle win on his seasonal bow wowed many respected judges, and the jockey himself is very high on the son of Montjeu. "I was delighted with his first run of the year. I thought he might be vulnerable under a 7lb penalty but he went through the race very easily, stretched away and won well."
