Teofilo team target Classic double
Last season’s champion juvenile is ante-post favourite for both Newmarket and Epsom Classics thanks to a stunning first campaign which saw him unbeaten in five races, including the National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes.
Bolger said: “He’s in very good form and well on target for Newmarket.
“He’s the same height this year as he was last year so he hasn’t grown, he has just filled out.
“He will go straight to Newmarket and that will tell us where we go after but obviously we will have Epsom in mind.
“The Guineas is often the best trial for the Derby anyway.”
A total of 165 horses remain in the Derby on June 2 following the first forfeit stage, including 55 from Ireland – 38 hailing from the Aidan O’Brien stable.
The Ballydoyle trainer’s strong hand includes 2005 Epsom hero Motivator’s brother Macarthur, an easy winner of a Navan maiden, Criterium International scorer Mount Nelson, Royal Lodge Stakes victor Admiralofthefleet and Beresford Stakes winner Eagle Mountain.
The highly-promising Anton Chekhov and Vintage Stakes runner-up Duke Of Marmalade are other possibles from the O’Brien camp.
The all-conquering trainer will be seeking his third triumph in the blue riband after Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002).
A 13-strong Godolphin team includes Empire Day, Eastern Anthem and Strobilus.
Meanwhile, Henry Cecil’s Passage Of Time is the new 7-1 favourite with Coral for the Vodafone Oaks following the news Finsceal Beo was not among the 73 entries for the fillies’ Classic.
Jim Bolger’s filly has been at the head of the market since her impressive victories in the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Rockfel Stakes last season.
But her surprise defection from the race at the first forfeit stage has left Cecil’s charge as the leading hope for punters at this stage.
“We just don’t see her as a mile-and-a-half filly,” said Bolger.
“She won over a mile last year, and we are not ruling out 10 furlongs, But we will know more when she has run in two well-run races over a mile.
“And hopefully they will be the English and Irish Guineas.
“If the ground was good at Leopardstown we could go there for a prep but if not, she will go straight to Newmarket.”
Cecil has won the contest seven times in the past.
In the absence of Finsceal Beo, Bolger has entered the Galileo filly Luminous One, third to Derby hope Anton Chekhov in a Leopardstown Listed contest, and Christina’s Letter.
Aidan O’Brien has seven possibles in a bid to win his fourth Oaks, while Godolphin have three entered.
