If the Epsom Derby was in SA

Jan Vermeer heads 12 declared for Derby

A FIELD of 12 will line up for the Investec Derby on Saturday after there were three withdrawals at Thursday's final declaration stage for the Epsom Classic.

St Nicholas Abbey, the one-time favourite, Bright Horizon and Cape Blanco, who is set to run in Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club, were all ruled out by trainer Aidan O'Brien.

It leaves O'Brien, who is chasing his third Derby victory, with three runners headed by new favourite Jan Vermeer with support from Midas Touch and At First Sight.

Jan Vermeer is a general 2-1 chance for the Derby, while Midas Touch, winner of the Derrinstown Derby Trial, is 6-1 with most firms. At First Sight is the outsider of the 12 runners at 150-1.

Workforce, who is the 5-1 second favourite, heads the opposition to Jan Vermeer, but trainer Sir Michael Stoute has slight concerns about the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt's experience.

Second when his bit slipped in the Dante Stakes, Workforce worked at Lingfield recently and, speaking on At The Races, Stoute said: "In the spring, he wasn't thriving and he's short of experience.

"He had one race at two and the Dante was unsatisfactory. At Epsom, you've got to be sharp mentally and the good thing is there are 12 runners not 24 - that's a help.

"I took him to Lingfield to accelerate down the hill and come round the turn. He's sharpened up since the Dante, as one would expect him to."

Stoute, who has won the Derby four times, added: "We're entitled to run and he's got a chance, but I couldn't say I'm confident because of the lack of an additional run.

"He'll stay and I hope the ground isn't too quick."

The Ballydoyle trio and Workforce will be joined by Derby trial winners Bullet Train, successful at Lingfield, Godolphin's Rewilding, who captured the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood, Azmeel, winner of Chester's Dee Stakes and Ted Spread, who won the Chester Vase.

Godolphin also run Al Zir and Buzzword, while the field is completed by Coordinated Cut and Hot Prospect.