Aidan O’Brien can pick from three colts for Sunday’s €1.5 million French Derby at Chantilly with the trio including Geoffrey Chaucer, who is second-favourite in most ante-post lists for the Epsom Derby six days later.
A total of 21 horses were left in France’s premier classic after yesterday’s forfeit stage with some bookmakers installing Prix Greffulhe-winner Prince Of Gibraltar favourite ahead of the French Guineas hero Karakontie. Possible British representation includes Dante winner The Grey Gatsby but O’Brien, who has never won the Prix Du Jockey club, has left in Geoffrey Chaucer, Sunday’s Gallinule winner Adelaide and Johann Strauss. Adelaide was runner-up in the Prix Hoquart at Longchamp this month.
There was sustained support in the Epsom market for Geoffrey Chaucer last week.
The Jockey Club picture is likely to become clearer tomorrow if promising local horse Bodhi could be supplemented.
O'Brien has also left in the smart sprinter Guerre as well as Darwin in Sunday's Group Two Prix Du Gros-Chene while Ernest Hemingway is also a possible for the Group Two Grand Prix De Chantilly.
