Racing: Small field underlines Derby's dilemma

The smallest Derby field for more than 30 years and almost certainly the least diverse congregation ever to assemble for Flat racing's Blue Riband lies in prospect for Saturday and Epsom Downs.

A total of 13 runners were declared for the premier Classic yesterday and that may yet be whittled down to 11, the figure that careered around Tattenham Corner in 1970 when the great Nijinksy was victorious.

It is, however, the composition as much as number that is most arresting about this year's Derby. The bilateral nature of modern racing is starkly emphasised, with nine of the remaining 13, including the first seven in the betting market, representing either the Irish breeding and training giant of Coolmore and Ballydoyle or the Dubaian Maktoum brothers.

It is a worrying field for those who believe the duopoly is harming racing's broader appeal, especially at a time when the Derby is fighting to keep its place on the sporting stage.

Ballydoyle won the Derby 12 months ago with Galileo and, for several weeks now, have supplied the first and second favourites in Hawk Wing and High Chapparal, as well as Louisville.

The Tipperary stable's contracted jockey, Michael Kinane, is scheduled to announce where his favour lies in the next 48 hours, though further money yesterday for the 2,000 Guineas runner-up, Hawk Wing, suggests the decision has already been made.

The Maktoums' Godolphin operation may also be three-handed. Their standard bearer is Naheef, who will be partnered by Frankie Dettori, and he will be backed up by Moon Ballad and Dubai Destination.

There are three others which will run in the personal liveries of the Maktoum family. Sheikh Hamdan also has Tholjanah in the race, as well as Bandari. Sheikh Hamdan's younger brother, Sheikh Mohammed, bought Fight Your Corner 10 days ago as a gift for one of his sons.

Outside those owned by the big two powers the most fancied horse is a 25-1 shot, Coshocton, trained at Newmarket by Michael Jarvis. Even less fancied are Where Or When and Frankies Dream, to be saddled by local trainer Terry Mills. He will know how it feels when Ballydoyle and the Maktoums ride into town on Saturday.