Dalakhani heads French Derby 24

Dalakhani, the Aga Khan’s unbeaten dual Group One winner, is one of 24 remaining acceptors left in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly on Sunday.

The colt, the winner of two prep races for the Classic this term, impressively accounted for Super Celebre and Alberto Giacometti in the Prix Lupin last time out.

Those two were also left in at the first acceptance stage.

Aidan O’Brien, Alberto Giacometti’s trainer, has kept his options open by also accepting with Brian Boru, The Great Gatsby, Balestrini, Handel and France.

The champion trainer has, however, indicated that he is considering bypassing the French Classic to send his three-year-olds to Epsom for the Vodafone Derby instead.

The two British acceptors are the 2,000 Guineas third Norse Dancer and Sir Michael Stoute’s Kris Kin, though both could yet be supplemented for Epsom.

The other acceptors in the Chantilly classic are Diyapour, Shakanndi, Shedabad, Papineau, Look Honey, Beckito, American Mystery, Dancing Warrior, Feet Of Flames, Risk Seeker, Wanted, Coroner, Lomonosov and Victory Taita.