O’Brien elects to run four in Epsom Derby
His representatives from the seven left in at the second forfeit stage are set to be ante-post favourite Brian Boru, Alberto Giacometti, Balestrini and The Great Gatsby.
With stable jockey Michael Kinane opting for Brian Boru, O'Brien outlined his other riding arrangements for Saturday's Classic at Epsom.
"Pat Eddery on The Great Gatsby, Jamie Spencer will ride Balestrini and Alberto Giacometti Christophe Soumillon," O'Brien told RTE Radio yesterday.
"Christophe Soumillon is an excellent rider doing very well in France. He's young and very determined.
"We've been busy here on the gallops since 7.30 this morning and the plan is still to run four."
Brian Boru is 3-1 favourite with Ladbrokes to strike for O'Brien, who has won the last two Derbys with Galileo and High Chaparral.
Alberto Giacometti's prospects received a boost with the victory of Dalakhani in the Prix du Jockey-Club yesterday.
Alberto Giacometti had finished third, beaten a length and three-quarters, behind that horse in the Prix Lupin on his latest start. As a result he was cut to 8-1 from 10-1 with William Hill, and to 10-1 from 12-1 with Ladbrokes.
Dalakhani's owner the Aga Khan is hoping for a good run from his Epsom hope, Alamshar, trained by John Oxx.
"I think he's a good horse. He will have had to progress again as this one has," he told the BBC.
Magistretti, one of the main British hopes for the Vodafone Derby, pleased connections in a workout on the Rowley Mile racecourse in Newmarket yesterday.
The Neville Callaghan-trained colt is top-priced 20-1 chance for Saturday's Classic at Epsom having won both his starts this season in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket and York's Tote Dante Stakes.
"He went fine," Callaghan said. "He went a mile and did exactly what we wanted and did it in the manner which we would have expected which doesn't always happen.
"As things stand we are quite happy and we are entitled to be there."
Magistretti will be tackling a mile and a half for the first time in the blue riband and Callaghan said: "He's a nice horse but whether he'll stay I don't think anyone really knows. If he does stay he'll obviously be thereabouts.
"I don't want rain. Good ground is fine."
Recalling the colt's Dante success the trainer said: "He did it well. He got shuffled back three out to nearly last and still came there and won it and wasn't stopping.
"It's an extra furlong and a half at Epsom but you obviously hope.
"He's a horse who doesn't need a lot of work. He appears to be in very good form. The hope is that he's improving in which case you never know."
Kevin Darley, who rode Magistretti for the first time at York, will once again be on board at Epsom. Callaghan confirmed.
Rod Millman faces a tense few days as he waits to see if he is given the chance to run his Vodafone Derby outsider Prince Nureyev in the premier Classic at Epsom on Saturday.
Prince Nureyev, a general 100-1 shot, will be facing a massive step up in grade in the blue riband having scrambled home in a finish of short heads in a handicap at Newbury last month off a mark of just 93.
The Derby has a safety limit of 20 but there are 31 still in the race with another three likely to be added at today's supplementary stage and the Cullompton trainer fears his charge may get balloted out on Thursday when the final declarations are made.
Horses will be eliminated according to the handicapper's rating, with the lowest horse first.
"All is well with the horse. We are just waiting on the ballot now," Millman said today.
"He's only rated 99 now. Normally you'd be condemning the handicapper for winning a couple of short heads and going up 6lb but not in this case.
"I was obviously hoping there wouldn't be many runners last year there were 12.
"They are good horses this year but there are a lot of people taking a chance."
