Australia is one of 17 horses in contention for Saturday’s Investec Derby following the confirmation stage.

Niall ‘Boots’ Madden continued his amazing run of success for owner J P McManus when Whatever It Takes landed a tidy gamble in the featured E.P.S. Pumps Handicap Hurdle in Ballinrobe last night.

Connections of Carlton House remain “extremely hopeful” the Investec Derby favourite will make Saturday’s race, despite suffering a late setback.

A maximum field of nine runners, headed by Alamshar, will go to post in Saturday’s Ireland the Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Trainer Pascal Bary issued an upbeat bulletin on his French Derby winner Sulamani who reappears in the three-runner Prix Niel at Longchamp on Sunday.