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St Nicholas Abbey tops 19 acceptors for Epsom Derby A total of 19 contenders remained in the £1.25 million Derby (Eng-G1) following Thursday's forfeit stage, Epsom Downs announced Friday. There is one final chance to enter the June 5 classic, with supplementary entries having to be made by noon (British time) on May 31, at a cost of £75,000. Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who is seeking a third success in the Derby following the victories of Galileo (Ire) (2001) and High Chaparral (Ire) (2002), looks to hold another formidable hand this year with six contenders remaining. These include totesport's current 7-4 favorite ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (Montjeu [Ire]), who was the stunning winner of the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-G1) at Doncaster last season before finishing sixth on his seasonal reappearance in the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on May 1. CAPE BLANCO (Galileo [Ire]), the 5-1 second favorite with totesport, maintained his unbeaten record with a decisive victory in the Dante S. (Eng-G2) at York on May 13, while 7-1 third favorite MIDAS TOUCH (Galileo [Ire]) could bid to follow in the footsteps of Galileo and High Chaparral, having taken the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Ire-G2) at Leopardstown on his latest appearance. Other possible starters from Ballydoyle include Criterium International (Fr-G1) victor JAN VERMEER (Montjeu [Ire]) (14/1), AT FIRST SIGHT (Galileo [Ire]) (50-1) and BRIGHT HORIZON (Galileo [Ire]) (66-1). "St Nicholas Abbey is in good form," O'Brien told At the Races on Thursday. "Everything has been so far, so good with him and we are obviously still looking at Epsom with him. "It was his first run of the year at Newmarket and he jumped out and was a little bit fresh. Frankie Dettori's horse gave him a bump and got him going a bit earlier than he wanted to. "He just maybe went into top gear a little bit early and then, when the race really started, he never got a chance to relax. The race was over by the time he started getting going but we were happy with him. "In an ideal world, we would have preferred a better pace so he could settle, relax and get into a nice rhythm. It wasn't to be on the day, but all of the horses have been coming on a lot from their runs and we are hoping that they have come forward a good bit. "He has always been a well-balanced horse and he has loads of speed, which we have always seen. We never thought that Epsom would be a problem for him. "Cape Blanco is in good form as well and he has been cantering since York, while Midas Touch has been in good form since Leopardstown. They are both back in full work and we will take it day by day and see how their work goes -- we are happy with both." Jan Vermeer will make his seasonal reappearance in Sunday's Gallinule S. (Ire-G3) at the Curragh. Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute hold the distinction of being the most successful current trainers in the Derby, with both Newmarket handlers having enjoyed four victories. This year Cecil is set to be represented by BULLET TRAIN (Sadler's Wells) (10-1), who was the impressive winner of the Derby Trial (Eng-G3) at Lingfield Park on May 8, while Stoute's chance of landing a fifth success in the classic rests with WORKFORCE (King's Best) (12-1), who looks sure to come on for his seasonal reappearance when runner-up to Cape Blanco at York. Other Derby-winning trainers who could be represented in the 2010 renewal include John Gosden, successful with Benny the Dip in 1997, who has left in Dee S. (Eng-G3) scorer AZMEEL (Azamour [Ire]) (16-1), while Michael Bell, who saddled Motivator to triumph in 2005, could run COORDINATED CUT (Montjeu [Ire]) (16-1), who landed the valuable Tattersalls Timeform Three-Year-Old Trophy at Newmarket in April and was third behind Cape Blanco at York. The Maktoum family's Godolphin operation has three contenders going forward at the moment in AL ZIR (Medaglia d'Oro) (33-1), third behind St Nicholas Abbey at Doncaster last season; AMEER (Monsun) (33-1); and CHABAL (Galileo [Ire]) (25-1), who landed the Classic Trial (Eng-G3) at Sandown Park on April 23 but ran disappointingly last time out behind Cape Blanco at York. A likely starter for Godolphin on June 5 is REWILDING (Tiger Hill) (12-1). Previously trained in France by Andre Fabre and placed at Group 2 level in April, the colt made an eye-catching British debut for Mahmood al Zarooni when taking Wednesday's listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood impressively by four lengths. As he does not currently hold a Derby entry, Rewilding will have to be supplemented at a cost of £75,000 on May 31 at the five-day confirmation stage. The last horse to win the Chester Vase (Eng-G3) en route to Derby success was the mighty Shergar in 1981. A trainer hoping to change that statistic is Newmarket-based Mark Tompkins, who sent out TED SPREAD (Beat Hollow [GB]) to score in the contest on the Roodee on May 6. Totesport, official betting partner of the 2010 Derby Festival, rate the colt a 40-1 chance. "Ted Spread did a bit of work on Friday morning, and we are very happy with him," Tompkins said. "We just want some rain between now and June 5. "He will stay the trip and he is an improving horse. He will have learned a lot at Chester and his temperament is bombproof -- he will just stand there and pick grass. "If it rains and the ground comes in our favor, then I would hope that he could be fifth or sixth."
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