Ireland set to dominate Derby

With 14 out of the 20 entries in the forthcoming Epsom Derby hailing from Ireland, the Irish appear destined to add another Derby title to the 5 they won in the past decade.

More than half of the Irish entries in the race hail from the Ballydoyle stables of Aidan O’Brien, who will field nine entries in the race, including two Derby trial winners. The trainer is, however, expected to narrow his entries down to six over the next week.

“Everything we have left in are possibles. They all came through their trials well and deserve to have their chance,” O’Brien told the BBC. “If the ground is safe, we’d love to have plenty of runners. Obviously the Derby is a very important race and we are very lucky to have such a nice few horses this year.”

John Oxx’s race favourite, Sea the Stars, also hails from Ireland. John Gosden’s Gan Amhras, a favourite to pick up the pieces of O’Brien and Oxx fail to score, is yet another of the Irish contenders in the race.

William Haggas is arguably the strongest of the British trainers in the race, and will field Dee Stakes winner, South Easter, in the Epsom Derby on the 6th of June.