epsom derby 2011 /

Carlton House Heads 17 for Investec Derby
30/05/11

The Queen's Carlton House heads 17 remaining colts in Saturday's Investec Derby following the confirmation stage.

Carlton House
© Racehorse Photos

Sir Michael Stoute's three-year-old has attracted huge media interest due to his Royal connections and shot to the head of the betting for the Epsom Classic with victory in the Dante Stakes at York.

Aidan O'Brien looks set to unleash his usual strong challenge, with Dante runner-up Seville and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Recital heading the Ballydoyle team. Memphis Tennessee, Treasure Beach and Roderic O'Connor also remain in the reckoning, although the latter is expected to contest Sunday's French Derby instead.

Ed Dunlop's 2000 Guineas third Native Khan is another major player, while Godolphin's hopes appear to rest on Ocean War. Sheikh Mohammed's operation have also left in Casamento and Genius Beast, but other targets are preferred.

Ocean War
© Racehorse Photos

Godolphin Racing manager Simon Crisford told At The Races: "We are very much leaning towards Ocean War as being our Derby contender with Casamento going for the Prix du Jockey Club and Genius Beast waiting for the King Edward (at Royal Ascot).

"All three have stayed in at the confirmation stage, that gives us a little more time as a precautionary measure in case we have to change our plans at the last minute, but as things stand that is what we'll do. Ocean War has done very well - he's unbeaten this season. What we like about him is his very tenacious attitude. We're pretty certain a mile and a half will suit him well.

"We think a true-run race will help him and we expect to see him to do all his best work at the finish. On the book we know he's got plenty to find and he's got to improve a great deal on what's done so far, but he's done nothing but please us throughout the whole programme towards the Derby."

John Gosden is double handed at this stage with Masked Marvel and Nathaniel, while Andre Fabre's Pour Moi is set to be joined on the trip from France by the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Vadamar. Castlemorris King, Marhaba Malyoon and Pisco Sour complete the possibles.

Vadamar was odds-on to beat Pour Moi in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud earier this month, but could only finish third behind his fellow Epsom aspirant. Georges Rimaud, racing manager to his owner, the Aga Khan, admits the colt needs to progress, but recent homework prompted connections to have a tilt at the mile-and-a-half Classic.

Rimaud said: "We have decided to let him run. He worked well this morning, I am told. The horse has to improve, but we hope he can. Pour Moi is a good horse as well, obviously, but we believe Vadamar has the right to run."

THE 2011 INVESTEC DERBY

Class 1, Group 1, £1,250,000 Total Prize Fund, 4.00pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, June 4, 2011. For three-year-olds only, entire colts & fillies, one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards. Entries closed December 1, 2009 (444 entries). First scratchings deadline noon, March 1, 2011 (125 remained), £8,000 secondary entry stage noon, April 5, 2011 (12 extra entries received), second scratchings deadline noon, May 19, 2011 (22 remain), £75,000 supplementary entry & five-day confirmation stage, noon, May 30, 2011, final declaration stage 10am, June 2, 2011. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Wednesday, May 18 , 2011. May not include some overseas form.

Form Horse Owner Trainer

21-1 CARLTON HOUSE (USA) The Queen Sir Michael Stoute

1211-5 CASAMENTO (IRE) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni

0560-5 CASTLEMORRIS KING C O'Connell Michael Attwater

331-13 GENIUS BEAST (USA) Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni

1-6 MARHABA MALYOON (IRE) Ahmad Al Shaikh David Simcock

16-51 MASKED MARVEL Bjorn Nielsen John Gosden

5(1)-2 MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

22- 12 NATHANIEL (IRE) Lady Rothschild John Gosden

114-13 NATIVE KHAN (FR) Vefa Ibrahim Araci Ed Dunlop

5-11 OCEAN WAR Godolphin Mahmood Al Zarooni

0(1)120-3 PISCO SOUR (USA) Michael Kerr-Dineen Hughie Morrison

01-31 POUR MOI (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith Andre Fabre FR

11-31 RECITAL (FR) Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Eduard Mordukhovich Aidan O’Brien IRE

3121-0 RODERIC O'CONNOR (IRE) Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sangster Family Aidan O’Brien IRE

212-2 SEVILLE (GER) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

21123-1 TREASURE BEACH Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

61-13 VADAMAR (FR) H H Aga Khan Alain de Royer Dupre FR

17 entries remain at May 30 confirmation stage

THE FOLLOWING 5 HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED:

MASTER OF HOUNDS, REGENT STREET, APACHE