Ambiente Friendly (Ire)

Aidan O'Brien will be represented by a trio in Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, with Ryan Moore staying loyal to last year's champion juvenile City Of Troy (Justify) over the stable's other kingpin Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). As the draw for the Blue Riband took place on Epsom High Street, there was a very public blow to TDN Rising Star City Of Troy's chances as he was handed the dreaded stall one with all its disadvantages, with Los Angeles who will be partnered by Wayne Lordan faring slightly better in...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, there remains the possibility of a maximum field going to post for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom, with City Of Troy (Justify) the standout name among 20 colts still in contention for the Classic. Unbeaten in three starts as a two-year-old, City Of Troy is a short-priced favourite to provide trainer Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending tenth success in the Derby, despite disappointing on his return to action in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. O'Brien could field up to six runners at Epsom, with...

Robert Havlin has been booked to ride Ambiente Friendly (Ire) in the G1 Betfred Derby, replacing Callum Shepherd aboard the leading Epsom contender when the Classic is run on Saturday, June 1. Trained by James Fanshawe, Ambiente Friendly has been ridden by Shepherd in both his previous starts this season, most notably in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial S. earlier this month when he announced himself as a potentially top-class colt with an impressive four-and-a-half-length victory. The son of Gleneagles (Ire) is now a best-priced 5/1 for the Derby and...

Twenty-one colts remain in contention for the G1 Betfred Derby following the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1. Aidan O'Brien, who saddled a record-extending ninth winner of the Derby when Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was successful in 2023, could be mob-handed this year with up to seven runners. His entries include the outstanding two-year-old of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), who will be trying to emulate Auguste Rodin by bouncing back from a disappointing return to action in...

Relishing the step up to an extended 11 furlongs on Saturday, Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Roxity {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gave the Gredleys something to dream about over the next three weeks with a power-packed display in Lingfield's Listed Derby Trial. Keen initially for Callum Shepherd before enjoying cover behind the early leaders, the 8-1 shot moved to the front with two furlongs to race and left his rivals for dead from there. At the line, the James Fanshawe-trained 80,000gns Craven Breeze-Up purchase who had been fourth in the...