TONY CALVIN: SATURDAY details, Derby numbers and double entries at Epsom

17 left in the Derby (effectively 16 perhaps)

No Derby surprises after the midday confirmation stage at the five-day stage on Monday.

As expected, Aidan O’Brien took out his French Derby 1-2 of Constitution River and Hawk Mountain, but he still has seven of the 17 in here, including the [15/8] favourite Benvenuto Cellini.

I’ll have a look at the race for the first serious time on Monday afternoon, but nothing immediately really stands out at the current prices.

It is a pretty underwhelming race, quality-wise, if truth be told, but of course it is carpeted with potential.

Do not back Endorsement ante-post as he has been confirmed to run at Leopardstown on Thursday – as it stands, anyway.

Jesus, Joseph has more than the odd wee donkey

One thing I noticed when doing the double entries is how many Epsom entries Joseph O’Brien has at Epsom on Friday and Saturday: I counted 13, as well as having an army at home midweek and one entry at Musselburgh at the weekend, too.

It’ll be interesting to know how many horses he has now.

Even Dan Skelton may be getting jealous….

The answer is 210

Thanks to Kevin Blake for texting with the answer on Tuesday morning. It is “steady at 210 for the last couple of years”.

Skelton probably has double that after his recent spending at the sales….

I am going to wait on Derby now

With 72-hour declarations for the Derby, we will know the final field by 10am tomorrow, so I don’t see much point in doing any copy now.

And I don’t see a stand-out price anyway.

COURSE DETAILS

EPSOM (33mm on Tuesday – 3mm today but now sunny spells and drying wind)

Soil Moisture 53% at 8.45am Wednesday

5 Furlong Course

Flat Turf: Good (Going Stick 5.8, Wednesday 8.45am)

Derby Course

Flat Turf: Good to soft (Going Stick 5.5, Wednesday 8.45am)

Rails: Rail out on Derby Course from 1m to winning post. Effect on distances to be confirmed.

Stalls: 5f – Stands Side 6f – Outside 1m 4f – Centre Remainder – Inside

Wednesday update: 33mm rain Tuesday, Rest of the week remains unsettled, with showers possible most days. Friday looks the driest day. Wednesday – 3mm rain recorded to 3pm. Cleared. Thursday – showers possible for much of the day, particularly morning, 4-6mm possible Friday – mainly dry, 1mm possible Saturday – showers possible in the morning, 3-4mm Temperatures will be in the late teens/early twenties.

Watering: 20mm in total applied Monday-Friday of last week. 5mm to entire course Saturday. No watering Sunday and in light of weather forecast for Monday-Tuesday no watering planned for Monday. Reviewed daily.

Latest yr.no (4.40pm):  3mm Wednesday up but now sunny spells and drying wind; 9.9mm Thursday, 0.23mm Friday; 6.7mm Saturday

DOUBLE ENTRIES AT EPSOM ON SATURDAY (this week only – Irish weekend entries are known tomorrow afternoon)

1.30pm: Alcantor, Audience, Balmacara, Breckenbrough, Copacabana Sands, Cowardofthecounty, Linwood

NB: Poet Master and Ten Bob Tony are in an early-closer on June 11

2.05pm: Betty Clover, Breckenbrough

NB: Princess Child is in an early-closer on June 11

2.40pm: NONE

3.15pm: Almaty Star, Brazen Bolt, Counsel, Desert Cop, Dream Composer, Francisco’s Piece, Golden Long, Marching Mac, Michaela’s Boy, Partisan Hero, Rhythm N Hooves, Rogue Enforcer, Seven Questions, Star Chorus, Stormy Impact, Sturlasson, The Bell Conductor, Vintage Clarets

4pm: Endorsement (due to run at Leopardstown on Thursday – so do not back ante-post)

4.40pm: Folk Pageant, Hell Yeah He Did, Lake Como, My Mate Roger, Tai Hang Pegasus, Tailgunner Joe