In-form sprinter El Astronaute (12/1 co second favourite with Unibet) is one of 46 confirmations for the feature handicap of the Investec Derby Festival, £100,000 Investec Corporate Banking 'Dash' Handicap over the world's fastest five furlongs.
El Astronaute (John Quinn, 8st 5lb) is two from two in five-furlong handicaps so far this year. The four-year-old followed up his short-head success at Newmarket's Craven Meeting with a front-running victory in a class two handicap at Chester on May 10.
He also has a 100 per cent record over the course and distance at Epsom Downs, having captured the Indigenous Handicap in September despite hanging across the track.
Trainer John Quinn said: "El Astronaute has come out of Chester in superb form and is now aiming for Epsom.
"He has got a four pound penalty after Chester but the handicapper has put him up four, so in effect he is fine.
"He is a horse we have always liked. We gelded him over the winter and I think that has made a difference. He is very a quick horse and these fast tracks suit him well.
"Silvestre de Sousa won on him at Epsom last year and said the hospitality marquee they had at the furlong pole took his eye off the ball. He was running as straight as a gun barrel until the next thing you know he cocked his draw and was hanging away from the marquee.
"We felt he really handled the track itself and, as long there isn't another marquee there on Derby Day, he should have a right chance!"
The betting is headed on 10/1 by another progressive four-year-old Vibrant Cords (Henry Candy, 8st 9lb), who was hampered in the race won by El Astronaute at Newmarket before a comfortable success in a five-furlong handicap at Goodwood on May 6.
Sharing 12/1 second-favouritism with El Astronaute are last year's winner Caspian Prince (Tony Coyle) and Edward Lewis (David O'Meara), an impressive winner over five furlongs on turf at Lingfield on May 12.
Investec Corporate Banking 'Dash' Handicap, Unibet odds:
10/1 Vibrant Chords; 12/1 Caspian Prince, Edward Lewis, El Astronaute; 14/1 Kimberella, Desert Law; 16/1 Lancelot du Lac, Boom The Groom, Duke Of Firenze, Sir Maximilian, Double Up, Bowson Fred, Seeking Magic, East Street Revue, Majestic Hero, Dark Shot, Rich And Famous, Harry Hurricane, Line of Reason, Gamesome, Orvar, A Momentofmadness, Shamshon, Love On The Rocks; 25/1 Move In Time, Verne Castle, Afandem, Exceed The Limit, Queen In Waiting, Evergate; 33/1 Glenrowan Rose, Union Rose, Sign of The Kodiac, Mont Kiara, Independence Day, Lathom, Excessable, Jack Flash
40/1 Distant Past, Olivia Fallow; 50/1 Blithe Spirit, Rasheeq, Intibaah, Seamster, Fethiye Boy; 66/1 Sandfrankskipsgo
EW 1/4 1-2-3-4
