Owner Anthony Oppenheimer has confirmed Frankie Dettori is set to ride favourite Golden Horn in the Epsom Derby.
Dettori chose to ride Jack Hobbs in the Dante Stakes at York last week but had to make do with second place behind the John Gosden-trained stablemate.
William Buick rode Golden Horn at York, but with Godolphin buying into Jack Hobbs, the jockeys could do a swap for the Classic as Buick is a retained rider for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation.
“It’s an almost certainty that Frankie will be riding him,” Oppenheimer told At The Races.
“It’s very exciting to have a really good horse. Whatever happens in the Derby, he will be a really good horse.”
Just 16 horses remain in the Classic after the latest declaration stage but the runners do not yet include Golden Horn who will be a late entry.
Dettori was understandably thrilled by the news.
“Of course I’m excited,” he said.
“He was a good winner of the Dante and he’s a worthy favourite for the Derby.
“It brings back those memories of 2007 (Authorized’s Derby success) when I didn’t sleep for two weeks, so you can imagine how I feel right now.”
