Ante-post favourite Kingsbarns is one of 111 three-year-olds still in the frame for this year’s Epsom Derby.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner sealed his place at the head of the market for the June 1 event when winning the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
He is one of 35 entries for O’Brien, who will be seeking to follow up Camelot’s success in the mile-and-a-half Classic last year and increase his overall tally in the Epsom showpiece to four winners.
The highly-touted Mars, runaway winner of a Dundalk maiden on his only start in July, is another O’Brien entry along with Phoenix Stakes victor Pedro The Great and Beresford Stakes winner Battle Of Marengo.
While O’Brien has enjoyed plenty of Epsom success, Richard Hannon has yet to make his mark in the race and is hoping the unbeaten Toronado can supply a first victory.
Winner of the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Toronado will first line up in a 2000 Guineas, although which one has yet to be decided.
“We will be looking at the Derby for Toronado after he has run in one of the Guineas, but we have not decided which one he will go for at the moment,” said Richard Hannon junior, assistant to his father.
“He is in great form and he has done very well over the winter so we are very pleased with him – we always thought he would make a lovely three-year-old.
“It’s exciting for the team as we have not had many Derby runners and we are looking forward to it.”
Sir Michael Stoute has endured a lean time of late judged by his own high standards, but Telescope is a leading chance at this stage for the Freemason Lodge handler after winning a Newmarket maiden last term.
Telescope is owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Wavertree syndicate which includes Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Manchester United manager also one of the owners of The Welsh Wizard, trained by Charlie Hills.
Sir Henry Cecil, successful in the Derby four times, has three entries, including Lingfield maiden winner Mighty Yar.
There are 16 contenders split between Godolphin’s two trainers, Mahmood Al Zarooni (11) and Saeed bin Suroor (five), including Chesham Stakes winner and Champagne Stakes third Tha’ir with the latter.
