THE Derby is just two weeks away and eight of the 21 remaining entries in the Epsom classic are Irish-trained.

Aidan O’Brien’s five hopefuls are headed by Leopardstown Derby Trial winner Stone Age, who is second favourite at odds of 5/2, just behind Sir Michael Stoute’s unbeaten Dante Stakes winner Desert Crown.

O’Brien, who has won the race a record eight times, also has trial winners Changingoftheguard, United Nations and Star Of India engaged, alongh with Ivy League, who runs in today’s Irish 2000 Guineas.

Another Derby entry engaged in today’s Curragh contest is Tetrarch Stakes winner Buckaroo, trained by Joseph O’Brien. His brother Donnacha will run Piz Badile, and Frankie Dettori has already been booked to ride that colt, who defeated Buckaroo in the Ballysax Stakes last month.

Sir Michael Stoute is seeking a sixth Derby victory and his first since Workforce in 2010.

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is chasing a third Derby success in five years following Masar (2018) and Adayar (2021). His two remaining entries are Nahanni, winner of a listed trial at Epsom in April, and Walk Of Stars, runner-up to United Nations in the Lingfield Derby Trial.

Appleby said: “Walk Of Stars has most definitely come forward mentally from that run at Lingfield. He’s a big playboy still, but we’re definitely very pleased with what we’ve seen since his run.

“Nahanni hasn’t been seen since his win at Epsom in the Blue Riband Trial. As a physical (specimen), we couldn’t be any happier with the way he’s done and work-wise he’s just been picking up the gears each week.”

The trainer also reported that Adayar will miss his intended return to action in the Coronation Cup at Epsom and head to Royal Ascot instead. Last year’s Derby and King George hero has not been seen since finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October.

“Adayar was coughing for a few days, so I just eased off him for a week,” Appleby said. “In doing so, he did very well that week so I think we’re probably going to be giving the Coronation Cup a miss as just fitness-wise, I won’t quite have him there ready in time. Adayar is most likely to be heading towards the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for the first start of his four-year-old career.”

While Adayar will not line up at Epsom, Manobo will step into his place in the Coronation Cup. Another four-year-old, Manobo made impressive strides last term, graduating from a Newbury maiden win in May to win the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

Manobo ended the campaign unbeaten in four starts and made it five on the bounce when winning a Meydan Group 3 on his return in February before suffering the first defeat of his career when, after racing far too freely, he finished half a length behind Stay Foolish over two miles in Dubai in March.

DERBY BETTING: 2/1 Desert Crown, 5/2 Stone Age, 8 Changingoftheguard, Piz Badile, 12 United Nations, Star Of India, 16 Walk Of Stars, Westover, Eydon, 20 Nahanni, 25 bar.