It was a case of third time lucky for New Approach on Saturday, as he stunned the crowd at Epsom to take the 2008 Vodafone Epsom Derby.

New Approach’s performance caused a stir for several reasons, not least the fact that Jim Bolger had indicated that New Approach would not be running in at the Derby before capitulating at the last moment and declaring his runner for Saturday’s Classic.

Although a few eyebrows were raised by Bolger’s indecisive preparation for the race, few expected New Approach to excel given the horse’s recent failures at the Guineas.

However, New Approach appears to have learnt from his two losses to Henrythenavigator and put in a masterful run over Epsom Downs, taking the lead from Sir Michael Stoute’s Tartan Bearerin a late surge and winning the race by half a length.

Race favourite Casual Conquest did not disappoint entirely, coming home in 3rd place and paying out each way bets to thousands of relieved punters.

After the race Bolger indicated that New Approach is virtually certain to make an appearance in the Irish Derby, before setting out to conquer the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

For more information on upcoming Classics, visit the Irish Oaks site.

A field of 17 runners has been declared for the running of the Epsom Derby this weekend. The field includes a bumper crop of top Irish runners, many of whom rank amongst the favourites for this weekend’s renewal of the most prestigious Classic in flat racing.

Dermit Weld’s Casual Conquest looks certain to stay at the helm of Epsom Derby betting markets going into the race, and at odds of 7/2 looks like both the bookmakers’ and punters’ pick for winner.

Dermot Weld finds himself in the fortunate position of also fielding the second priced runner at the Epsom Derby with Curtain Call priced 4/1 by William Hill to take honours in the race.

The prices of both of the market frontrunners are based on their ability over longer distances, with both having won races over distances greater than 1 mile 2 furlongs.

Aidan O’Brien’s five Epsom Derby entries make up the bulk of Irish entries into the race. King of Rome is O’Brien’s most promising entry into the race, and looks like one of the best bets available at the Epsom Derby with odds of 12/1 with William Hill.

Jim Bolger fields the 3rd priced runner at the 2008 Epsom Derby, with New Approach looking to prove that his class will come through over longer distances, after twice being pipped to the post in the Guineas.

King of Rome is rapidly emerging as the favourite for this weekend’s Classic highlight, the Vodafone Epsom Derby. King of Rome was chosen by veteran Derby jockey Johnny Murtagh on a day that saw his odds contract from 20-1 to 12-1 with William Hill.

King of Rome will be running for Aidan O’Brien, who will field another four runners in the season’s biggest Classic.

O’Brien confirmed his runners and their riders at a press conference yesterday, saying: “Johnny will be on King Of Rome, Mick rides Frozen Fire and David McCabe will be on Bashkirov. Seamie Heffernan and Colm O’Donoghue will be our other Derby jockeys but it will be tomorrow before we decide which of them rides Washington Irving or Alessandro Volta.”

Meanwhile Jim Bolger has continued to dither about which of his horses will be appearing in the Classics this year, making a late statement that New Approach would be running at the 2008 Epsom Derby after having categorically denied that his runner would be seen in a hundred mile radius of Epsom Downs on Derby day.

New Approach finished as runner-up at both of the season’s early Classics, the 2,000 Guineas and the Irish 2,000 Guineas, losing out to Henrythenavigator on both occasions. Bolger had claimed that he’d prefer to run New Approach at the Irish Derby in two weeks rather than risk his runner on the firm ground at Epsom Downs racecourse.