Carlton House drawn 13 as connections confirm entry for Derby

Carlton House is one of the 13 horses declared for Saturday’s Derby at Epsom.

It’s the most positive sign yet from the connections of Carlton House that he will run in Saturday’s Classic, and Thursday morning’s workout seems to have left connections of the Derby favourite with a smile on their faces.

A setback on Mondayleft Carlton House a doubt for the biggest race of the year and while there is still time for Sir Michael Stoute to withdraw his star from the race, the positive signs suggest the Queen will be in with a chance of winning her first ever Derby.

It’s 34 years since the Queen last owned a Classic winner but after his performance in the Dante Stakes at York, Carlton House is rightly favourite for the Derby.

All morning there has been plenty of toing-and-froing in the Derby odds with plenty of people willing to take on the favourite and plenty of punters willing to snap up the big prices.

Carlton House is now the 7/4 favourite despite drifting out to 7/2 early this morning and has been handed the widest draw of the 13 runners.

There is no significant draw bias at Epsom for the Derby, but the ground will be a major factor in the Derby betting.

Pour Moi and Recital are currently battling hard for second favouritism with the Andre Fabre’s French star just shading it a 7/2 and Aiden O’Brien’s three-year-old available at 5/1.

Roderic O’Connor, Casamento, Nathaniel and Genius Beast were the withdrawals at the two-day declaration stage and barring a late withdrawal from Carlton House, it seems we have the 13 final runners for the most prestigious race of the year.