Aidan O’Brien Confirms Trio for Betfred Derby

City Of Troy, Los Angeles & Euphoric to run on Saturday

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed City Of Troy, Los Angeles, and outsider Euphoric as his three intended runners in the Betfred Derby on Saturday, with live coverage on ITV Racing.

The Ballydoyle trainer, aiming to add to his record nine victories in the premier Classic, had six horses left in the race at Monday’s confirmation stage. However, French 2000 Guineas contender Diego Velazquez will head back across the Channel for Sunday’s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, and Illinois and Portland seem unlikely to make the trip to Epsom, reducing O’Brien’s contingent.

“That is what we’re thinking of, maybe the three, everything seems well with them all at the moment so that’s what we’re thinking,” O’Brien said in a France Galop Zoom call on Tuesday.

O’Brien’s comments suggest confidence in City Of Troy's participation despite significant support for Los Angeles from several bookmakers. Coral cut the Leopardstown Derby Trial winner to 4-1 from 9-2 and eased City Of Troy to 11-4 from 9-4, while Paddy Power listed them even closer, with City Of Troy at 11-4 and Los Angeles at 100-30 from 5-1.

Coral has also noted support for Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom. Their spokesman David Stevens said, “City Of Troy was as short as 7-4 for the Derby last week, but in recent days Ancient Wisdom, who was 11-1, and Los Angeles, 6-1 at the weekend, have been the pair attracting the most support, to the point where either could now end up replacing City Of Troy as big-race favourite come Saturday.”

O’Brien is not overly concerned about the underfoot conditions for either of his two main contenders. He added, “That (ground) should be fine I think, they’re giving Friday and Saturday dry, so you often see the ground can be slow for the Oaks and perfect for the Derby. We think and hope it’s going to be nice ground and I think that’ll suit everybody really.”

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield remarked, “Los Angeles has now usurped Ambiente Friendly as second-favourite and after sustained support is in to 100-30 from 5-1. Nothing will change City Of Troy being our biggest loser at this stage as he was all the rage for the guts of a year, although there don’t seem to be many punters keen to back him now even at 11-4. There’s not a lot of difference in price in the Ballydoyle big two now and while a week ago I wouldn’t even have envisaged Ryan Moore not partnering City Of Troy and we, of course, have absolutely no idea of their riding arrangements, were Ryan to elect to ride Los Angeles instead, I would be flabbergasted if the latter doesn’t go off favourite.”

O’Brien, however, expects Moore to stick with City Of Troy as he aims to replicate last year’s Epsom hero Auguste Rodin by bouncing back from a 2000 Guineas disappointment to claim Derby glory, with Wayne Lordan likely to continue riding Los Angeles.

“That’s the plan, that is what we were thinking of doing. I didn’t hear anything different and I think that has been the plan all along,” said O’Brien.