Racing: O'Brien to run four in the Derby
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Aidan O'Brien yesterday confirmed his team of four horses for the Derby on Saturday as he attempts to win the blue riband for a record third consecutive year.
The champion trainer's representatives from the seven left in at the latest entry stage are set to be the ante-post favourite Brian Boru, Alberto Giacometti, Balestrini and The Great Gatsby. With Ballydoyle's stable jockey, Michael Kinane, opting for Brian Boru, O'Brien outlined his other riding arrangements for Saturday.
"Pat Eddery on The Great Gatsby, Jamie Spencer will ride Balestrini and Alberto Giacometti Christophe Soumillon," O'Brien said. "Christophe Soumillon is an excellent rider doing very well in France. He's young and very determined. We've been busy here on the gallops since 7.30 this morning and the plan is still to run four."
Brian Boru is 11-4 favourite with Coral to strike for O'Brien, who has won the last two Derbys with Galileo and High Chaparral. Alberto Giacometti's prospects received a boost with Dalakhani's win in France. Alberto Giacometti finished third, beaten a length and three-quarters, behind that horse in the Prix Lupin on his latest start. He was cut to 10-1 from 12-1 with Ladbrokes yesterday.
The Derby has a new safety limit of 20 but there are 31 still entered with another three likely to be added at today's supplementary stage. The horses with the lowest official handicap rating will be eliminated a first.
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