EPICURIS should have run in the Prix du Jockey Club but was switched to the Investec Derby at Epsom when the stewards of France Galop refused to allow the expert stalls handler Nicolas Blondeau help load the colt at the start.

A playful sort, Epicuris refused to enter the stalls so was withdrawn from the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe just before the off. An official gave an explination for the refusal: “It is not fair on the other runners. If we permit loading assistance at the start we could end up with a lamb or a goat.”