Ante-post favourite English King is among 17 entries for Saturday’s Investec Derby, with Aidan O’Brien putting seven in contention as he bids for a record eighth win in the Epsom Classic.

O’Brien, a seven-time winner of the Derby alongside Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling, indicated last week his intention to run up to six horses in the Classic and on Sunday suggested more could join them after his 1-2-3-4 in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday evening.

However, Irish Derby winner Santiago is not among the entries and neither are any of his beaten stablemates, although Saturday’s impressive nine-length maiden winner Serpentine was a surprise addition to O’Brien’s team. The Ballydoyle septet also includes Royal Ascot winner Russian Emperor, Irish 2,000 Guineas second Vatican City, Amhran Na Bhfiann, Armory, Mogul and Mythical.

Aidan O’Brien: Derby in numbers
85 Runners
7 Wins
8 Seconds
5 Thirds
8-13 Shortest-priced winner (Camelot, 2012)
40-1 Biggest-priced winner (Wings Of Eagles, 2017)
8 Biggest Derby team (2007)
53.85 Percentage of runners in last year’s Derby

It will not be O’Brien’s biggest Derby team even if all seven entries are declared on Thursday, as he ran eight in the 2007 Derby won by the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Authorized. However, he did run seven when successful with Anthony Van Dyck last year.

Frankie Dettori’s ride, English King, is among the home contingent, as is Andrew Balding’s Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Kameko and his stablemate Khalifa Sat.

Dettori’s main ally, John Gosden, has entered once-raced Newbury maiden winner Worthily, with Emissary (Hugo Palmer), Highland Chief (Paul and Oliver Cole), Max Vega (Ralph Beckett) and Mohican Heights (David Simcock) completing the British-based entries.

O’Brien is not the only trainer in Ireland to enter runners in the Derby, with Jessica Harrington and owners The Long Wait Partnership stumping up the £10,000 entry fee for Irish Derby sixth Gold Maze.

Investec Derby betting: 5-2 English King, 7-2 Kameko, 13-2 Russian Emperor, 7-1 Mogul, Vatican City, 12-1 Highland Chief, 14-1 Pyledriver, 16-1 Khalifa Sat, 20-1 and upwards others

In the Investec Oaks, which will be run an hour and a quarter before the Derby, O’Brien is represented by four entries, including ante-post favourite and Qipco 1000 Guineas winner Love.

The last-named two were comprehensively beaten in the Ribblesdale by the Gosden-trained Frankly Darling, who is joined by her stablemate Tiempo Vuela in the 11 entries.

Roger Varian has two Oaks options in Gold Wand and Queen Daenerys, with Bharani Star (Chapple-Hyam), Dubai Love (Bin Suroor) and Oriental Mystique (Simcock) completing the entries.

Alpine Star, Franconia, Domino Darling, Fancy Blue, Quadrilateral and Raabihah were all available at 10-1 or shorter in the Oaks ante-post market on Monday morning, but none of those six were entered by the Monday deadline.

Investec Oaks betting: 11-8 Love, 9-4 Frankly Darling, 9-2 Peaceful, 8-1 Ennistymon, 10-1 Gold Wand, 16-1 Passion, 25-1 and upwards others

The full list of Derby entries
Amhran Na Bhfiann (Aidan O’Brien)
Armory (Aidan O’Brien)
Emissary (Hugo Palmer)
English King (Ed Walker)
Gold Maze (Jessica Harrington)
Highland Chief (Paul and Oliver Cole)
Kameko (Andrew Balding)
Khalifa Sat (Andrew Balding)
Max Vega (Ralph Beckett)
Mogul (Aidan O’Brien)
Mohican Heights (David Simcock)
Mythical (Aidan O’Brien)
Pyledriver (William Muir)
Russian Emperor (Aidan O’Brien)
Serpentine (Aidan O’Brien)
Vatican City (Aidan O’Brien)
Worthily (John Gosden)
The full list of Oaks entries
Bharani Star (Peter Chapple-Hyam)
Dubai Love (Saeed Bin Suroor)
Ennistymon (Aidan O’Brien)
Frankly Darling (John Gosden)
Gold Wand (Roger Varian)
Love (Aidan O’Brien)
Oriental Mystique (David Simcock)
Passion (Aidan O’Brien)
Peaceful (Aidan O’Brien)
Queen Daenerys (Roger Varian)
Tiempo Vuela (John Gosden)

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