Ruling Court leads 19 contenders for Derby crown

Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court is among a field of 19 declared for the Betfred on Saturday.

For the first time ever the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation as the Godolphin runner attempts to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive.

There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor’s Tornado Alert, fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation.

Aidan O’Brien has three leading contenders in Delacroix, winner of the two best Derby trials in Ireland, The Lion In Winter, who was favourite for the race all winter and Lambourn, successful in the Chester Vase.

Ralph Beckett’s Pride Of Arras has plenty of followers as he arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante at York, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials. Beckett also runs Stanhope Gardens.

John and Thady Gosden also have multiple chances with Damysus and Nightwalker, who were second and fifth in the Dante.

There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard’s Midak and Henri-Francois Devin’s New Ground, with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday.

Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff, second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm, the mount of Billy Loughnane.

Al Wasl Storm, Nightime Dancer, Rogue Impact, Sea Scout, Tennessee Stud and Tuscan Hills complete the list.