Cazoo Derby: Nations Pride and El Habeeb added with 18 still in contention

Nations Pride secured his position as third favourite for Saturday's Cazoo Derby (4.30) after he was supplemented for the Epsom Classic on Monday.

The Godolphin runner is one of 18 runners in contention for the Group 1 contest at the confirmation stage and is the leading hope for Godolphin, who seek their second British Classic of the season and also field Walk Of Stars and Nahanni.

William Buick confirmed Nations Pride would be his pick from the Godolphin runners, having played second fiddle in last year's Derby when third behind Adayar on Hurricane Lane.

"It'll be Nations Pride, all being well," Buick told Sky Sports Racing. "I'm looking forward to that but it's always a difficult decision, they are three nice horses.

"I'm fortunate to have the choice, that's a privilege in itself. They're hard to split and there for a reason. They are three beautifully bred horses."

Buick and Nations Pride last teamed up to deliver a commanding success in the Listed Newmarket Stakes when scoring by seven lengths over fellow Derby contender Hoo Ya Mal.

The Listed success propelled the son of Teofilo into Derby contention and trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed on Friday that connections intended to pay the £75,000 supplement fee for Epsom.

Nations Pride: supplemented for the Derby at Monday's confirmation stageCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Also supplemented for Epsom was El Habeeb, who will be Lambourn trainer Stan Moore's first runner in the Classic contest.

Owned and bred by Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim, the colt finished fifth in the Fairway Stakes this month and takes a significant step up in class in just his second start, with John Egan booked to ride.

Lingfield Derby Trial winner United Nations was a notable absentee on Monday, with Aidan O'Brien also leaving out two-time winner Ivy League from the confirmations.

The Ballydoyle trainer is content to pin his hopes of a ninth Derby success on Stone Age, Chester Vase winner Changingoftheguard and Star Of India.

Stone Age was promoted to favourite for the Derby after an impressive success in Leopardstown's Derby Trial, but was quickly usurped at the head of the market by Desert Crown, who cruised to an emphatic success in the Dante Stakes at York.

The unbeaten son of Nathaniel maintains his position as Derby favourite for trainer Michael Stoute, with the colt as short as 13-8 with bookmakers to triumph this weekend.

Cazoo Derby: entries, racecard and betting

Lysander, the sole entry for William Haggas, will miss the Derby after failing to land the Cocked Hat Stakes this month, and will likely head straight to the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 17.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Buckaroo will also be absent from Saturday's proceedings but holds entries for both Royal Ascot and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Sir Bob Parker is the final runner not confirmed for Epsom after trainer David Menuisier reported the colt to have sustained an injury on Saturday.

Price Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute confirmed that a decision over whether the Roger Varian-trained Eydon heads to Epsom or Chantilly for the Prix du Jockey Club will be made on Tuesday, with Derby declarations due by 10am on Thursday June 2.

Cazoo Derby (Betfair): 13-8 Desert Crown 13-8, 7-2 Stone Age, 6 Nations Pride, 9 Changingoftheguard, Piz Badile, 16 Star Of India, Westover, Walk Of Stars, 20 Eydon, Nahanni, Royal Patronage, 33 bar

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