Epsom Derby: Dawn Approach heads 24

Dawn Approach was a wide-margin winner of the 2000 Guineas

The unbeaten Dawn Approach features among 24 colts left in the 2013 Investec Derby, the premier Classic run at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 1...

Dawn Approach was an impressive winner of the first Classic of the season, the 2000 Guineas, and will be attempting to become the 38th horse to win both Classics.
 
A son of the 2008 Derby hero New Approach, Dawn Approach looks sure to go off as a short-priced favourite, currently trading at 2.447/5. His trainer Jim Bolger could also be represented by Trading Leather, who was runner-up in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York. Bolger's third leading three-year-old, Loch Garman, is set to contest the Irish Derby.
 
Speaking at York yesterday, the Irish handler said: "I am thrilled with my three top horses, Dawn Approach, Trading Leather and Loch Garman.
 
"We know the one that is better (Dawn Approach) - he is well. It is a toss-up between the other two. I think the only trials that matter were run in Coolcullen (on his stable's gallops). I'm ecstatic with them."
 
Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien, seeking his fourth Derby victory following Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002) and Camelot (2012), has been in red-hot form during the trials and has seven contenders remaining.
 
These include Ruler Of The World and Magician, who were successful in the Chester Vase and Dee Stakes respectively at Chester last week, as well as Lingfield Derby Trial scorer Nevis and Battle Of Marengo, who landed the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. O'Brien could also be represented by Mars, a staying-on sixth behind Dawn Approach at Newmarket, Festive Cheer and Flying The Flag.
 
Further Irish interest could be provided by First Cornerstone (Andy Oliver), Galileo Rock (David Wachman) and Zand (John Oxx). 
 
Andre Fabre was responsible for the last French-trained winner of the Derby, Pour Moi in 2011, and is set to be represented this year by Ocovango. The Monsun colt is unbeaten in three starts at Saint-Cloud and was last seen out when taking the Group Two Prix Greffulhe on May 4, the same trial Pour Moi landed before his Epsom Downs victory.

Ocovango could renew rivalry with the Jonathan Pease-trained Bravodino, who was half a length back in second in the Prix Greffulhe, while fellow French trainer Freddy Head also has two contenders going forward, Eternal Ray and Qahir.
 
Further interest from the Continent is provided by German contender Superplex (Michael Figge), fourth behind Ocovango in the Prix Greffhule.
 
The last Northern-trained winner of the Derby was Dante in 1945 but there is a live contender from Yorkshire this year in the Elaine Burke-trained Libertarian, a shock 33/1 winner of the Dante Stakes.
 
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Telescope, who was well supported in the ante-post market but was forced to miss the Dante Stakes due to a late setback, remains engaged and could head straight to Epsom Downs following a racecourse gallop.
 
Mirsaale is the one horse in the field with proven form at Epsom Downs, having taken the Derby Trial on April 24 and he is set to be a first runner in the Derby for Newmarket-based trainer James Tate.
 
Completing the potential line-up are Jammy Guest (George Margarson), Gold Medal (Richard Hannon), Ocean Applause (John Ryan) and Tinghir (David Lanigan).
 
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