City Of Troy tops the sixteen declarations made for the Epsom Derby on Thursday morning as he bids to bounce back from his reappearance flop in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
City Of Troy was all the rage heading into the 2024 flat season after being crowned champion juvenile in tremendous style as a two-year-old, but the bubble somewhat soon burst when Aidan O'Brien's short-priced 2000 Guineas favourite only managed to beat two rivals home on his reappearance at Newmarket in May.
Despite his underwhelming return to action City Of Troy, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore once more, remains a best-priced 11/4 favourite for Derby glory on Saturday, with impressive Leopardstown Derby Trial winner and stablemate Los Angeles his nearest pursuer in the market. Euphoric finished a length behind Los Angeles in the previously mentioned Group 3 and completes the trio for team Ballydoyle, with Prix du Jockey Club-bound Diego Velazquez, Illinois, and Portland all not declared.
The home challenge looks to be headed by the Charlie Appleby-trained Dante Stakes runner-up Ancient Wisdom, with impressive Lingfield Derby Trial scorer Ambiente Friendly also prominent in the betting for trainer James Fanshawe and new jockey Rab Havlin.
Roger Teal will be hoping his French 2000 Guineas second Dancing Gemini can go one better this time around under Dylan Browne McMonagle, while Ralph Beckett's Sandown Classic Trial runner-up Macduff will represent Juddmonte.
Blue Riband Trial winner Bellum Justum will attempt to put his course experience to good use and Richard Hannon, who enjoyed Irish 2000 Guineas success with Rosallion last Saturday, relies on the once-raced impressive Newbury novice scorer Voyage.
AMO Racing declared two of their three entries with shock Ballysax Stakes scorer Dallas Star, who will be partnered by retained rider David Egan, joined by the twice-raced maiden Mr Hampstead. The latter will be the mount of Sean Levey, while the owner's only other contender at entry stage, Padesha did not stand his ground.
The supplemented Tabletalk, Deira Mile, God's Window, Kamboo, and Sayedaty Sadaty complete the field of sixteen.
