Will O'Brien's Derby grip get even tighter? His upcoming entries hint it could

At the start of the week, Aidan O'Brien may have been pondering if another Classic would soon be decorated in Godolphin blue after Sheikh Mohammed's outfit dominated the 2,000 Guineas with the brilliant Coroebus and his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate Native Trail.

Post-Newmarket, attention turns to the Derby trials, but O'Brien – the pre-eminent force at Epsom – already boasted a bona fide contender in , a staying-on third in the 2,000 Guineas.

His effort helped him become the general 2-1 for the Cazoo-backed contest, but he was never going to be the only Ballydoyle Derby dart, a point underlined when O'Brien came out fighting in Chester's trials this week.

Derby entries and betting

Godolphin and Appleby appeared to have the key to Wednesday's Vase, but 4-11 favourite New London was never a factor behind .

The suggestion he would be a useful pacemaker for Luxembourg seems unfair on the straightforward colt, who displayed all the professional qualities possessed by his sire Galileo, whose influence on the Derby started in 2001 when he bolted up at Epsom and will not fade anytime soon.

Luxembourg: favourite for the DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The victory was a tenth in the Vase for O'Brien, who adores Chester's twists and turns when it comes to educating his Classic crop and used it for Derby heroes Ruler Of The World and Wings Of Eagles.

Layers were impressed, making Changingoftheguard an 8-1 shot, but O'Brien was not done and presented punters with another poser by landing the Dee Stakes at Chester on Thursday with , whose success – his trainer's ninth in the race – prompted quotes of 16-1 for the Derby.

It might be, however, the 52-year-old opts for something different with him, as he did previous Dee winners Magician and Circus Maximus, who dropped back from 1m2½f to become top-class milers.

Star Of India winning at Chester on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The next Epsom contender off the rank is , who kept on at the track in another dress rehearsal recently when fourth in last month's Blue Riband Trial, and he heads to Lingfield for Saturday's SBK Derby Trial Stakes, which connections used to good effect three years ago when Anthony Van Dyck struck before following up in the Derby.

United Nations is 50-1 for Classic glory, but is half that price. He is engaged on Sunday in Leopardstown's Derby Trial, which used to be sponsored by Derrinstown and once offered the best clues for Epsom, notably from 2000 to 2002 when Sinndar, Galileo and High Chaparral all did the double.

is also entered at Leopardstown, but has the option of next week's Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York, which is of course another rock-solid Derby trial without being a go-to one for O'Brien, whose Epsom interest on the Leopardstown card could extend to the 1m4f maiden with the hyped-up .

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4)

bet365: 7-4 Luxembourg, 8 Walk Of Stars, Piz Badile, 10 Changingoftheguard, 12 Desert Crown, 14 Eydon, New London, Point Lonsdale, 16 Buckaroo, Cash, Star Of India, 20 Westover, 25 bar

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday