THE unbeaten Saxon Warrior heads the 14 three-year-old colts confirmed on Monday for the 2018 Derby, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday.

He is set to be the first odds-on favourite for the classic since Camelot, also trained by Aidan O'Brien, won the 2012 Investec-sponsored Derby at 8/13.

Camelot, like Saxon Warrior, won two Group 1s and was unbeaten coming into the Derby. They were the same Group 1s, the Racing Post Trophy over a mile at Doncaster at two and the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Saxon Warrior is a son of top Japanese stallion Deep Impact and there is immense interest in Japan as he bids to become the third horse this century to complete the 2000 Guineas/Derby double after Sea The Stars (2009) and Camelot.

O'Brien has six other colts still engaged in the Derby and there is every prospect that five will line up along with his stable star Saxon Warrior, set to be ridden by Ryan Moore.

NIARCHOS OUTSIDER

Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings, the owner/breeder of Zabriskie, revealed on Monday that the O'Brien-trained son of Frankel is on target for the race.

Fresh from welcoming a classic winner on Sunday at the Curragh, in the shape of the Jessica Harrington-trained Alpha Centauri in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Cooper said today: "Zabriskie is an intended runner in the Derby after his good third in the Dante Stakes at York.

"Aidan says he is an improving horse and Zabriskie gave me the impression at York that he would stay a mile and a half.

"His half-brother Bago (by 1989 Derby winner Nashwan) won the Arc over a mile and a half so there is stamina in the pedigree.

"Zabriskie handled the track at Epsom very well when he ran in the Blue Riband Trial in April. That was his first start of the season and he needed it to get him going for the year.

"The Derby has been the hope for a long time. Aidan has not yet finalised the jockeys for his Derby runners."

The Niarchos family's best placing in the Derby came with Main Sequence, the five-length runner-up to Camelot in 2012.

Zabriskie won one of his three starts at two when capturing a Tipperary maiden over nearly a mile in September. He finished sixth of eight in the Blue Riband Trial over 10 furlongs on April 25th, beaten less than five lengths, and kept on to gain third behind Qatar Racing's winner Roaring Lion (John Gosden/Oisin Murphy) in the Dante Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs at York on May 17th.

BALLYDOYLE SEXTET

O'Brien's other five include Delano Roosevelt and The Pentagon, who had to settle for minor honours behind Hazapour (Dermot Weld/Frankie Dettori) in a bunched finish to the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 13th.

Rostropovich, winner of the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester, but more likely to challenge for the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, at Chantilly, next Sunday, Listed Lingfield Derby Trial second Kew Gardens, and Group 3 Ballysax Stakes winner Nelson complete the O'Brien confirmations as the trainer chases a record-equalling seventh Derby victory.

Godolphin's Masar (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) and Roaring Lion, third and fifth to Saxon Warrior at Newmarket, both re-oppose on Saturday.

Roaring Lion has since posted an impressive four and a half-length victory in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York. Trainer John Gosden's previous two Derby heroes, Benny The Dip (1997) and Golden Horn (2015), both won the extended 10-furlong trial on route to Epsom Downs.

BUICK OPTIMISM

William Buick, Masar's regular rider, remarked today: "Masar is a fast-ground horse. He ran lovely in the Guineas and he should stay. He ran like he will definitely get further than a mile and obviously we meet the winner again, Saxon Warrior, but the Derby is the Derby - it is the ultimate race.

"It is a tough race and a lot needs to go right for you in it whatever horse you are on. Masar has had plenty of racing experience, the balance and a really good attitude. He should relax nicely and we are very positive about him.

"It is a big weekend and I am looking forward to all of it (Buick also rides Wild Illusion in Friday's Oaks and Hawkbill in Friday's Coronation Cup)."

William Haggas will be represented in the Derby by Group 3 Chester Vase victor Young Rascal (James Doyle) who had his first experience of Epsom Downs last week when working at the Breakfast With The Stars event.

The Newmarket handler won the Derby at his first attempt with Shaamit in 1996 and saddled the 2015 third Storm The Stars from just three Derby runners to-date. Young Rascal is owned by Bernard Kantor, managing director of Investec.

Lambourn trainer Harry Dunlop is eagerly anticipating saddling his firstDerby runner in Knight To Behold (Richard Kingscote) who defeated Kew Gardens decisively in the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield Park on May 12th for owner/breeder Neil Jones.

Sandown's Group 3 Classic Trial scorer Sevenna Star (John Gosden), together with Group 3 Chester Vase runner-up Dee Ex Bee (Mark Johnston/Silvestre de Sousa), complete the 14 Derby confirmations.

LATEST BETTING: 8/11 Saxon Warrior, 11/2 Roaring Lion, 9/1 Hazapour, 11/1

Young Rascal, 12/1 Delano Roosevelt, 16/1 Masar, 20/1 The Pentagon, Knight To Behold

25/1 Sevenna Star, 28/1 Dee Ex Bee, 33/1 Nelson, 40/1 Kew Gardens, Rostropovich, 50/1 Zabriskie.

LATEST GOING NEWS

Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course at Epsom Downs Racecourse, changed the going description at 3.45pm on Monday to Good, Good to Soft in places from Good to Soft after a hot and dry day on Sunday and so far on Monday.

The forecast suggests possible showers this evening and early tomorrow (Tuesday). It could be slightly cooler and drier at the end of the week.

THE INVESTEC DERBY (GROUP 1) of £1.5 million. 1m. 4f 6yds.

Horse Owner Trainer

DEE EX BEE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum Mark Johnston

DELANO ROOSEVELT (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

HAZAPOUR (IRE) HH Aga Khan Dermot Weld IRE

KEW GARDENS (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

KNIGHT TO BEHOLD (IRE) L Neil Jones Harry Dunlop

MASAR (IRE) Godolphin Charlie Appleby

NELSON (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

ROARING LION (USA) Qatar Racing Limited John Gosden

ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Markus Jooste Aidan O'Brien IRE

SAXON WARRIOR (JPN) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

SEVENNA STAR (IRE) Gestut Ammerland John Gosden

THE PENTAGON (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

YOUNG RASCAL (FR) Bernard Kantor William Haggas

ZABRISKIE (IRE) Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd Aidan O'Brien IRE

14 entries remain following today's five-day confirmation stage

8 Irish-trained

Taken out on Monday

AL MUFFRIH (IRE) Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum William Haggas

STUDY OF MAN (IRE) Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd Pascal Bary FR