Aidan O'Brien has five entries among 21 horses left in the Cazoo Derby following today's second scratchings deadline.

Aidan O’Brien is already the winning-most trainer in Derby history with eight victories and he has five colts going forward. The Balldoyle quintet includes impressive Group 3 Leopardstown Derby Trial scorer Stone Age and Changingoftheguard, who similarly caught the eye when taking the Group 3 Chester Vase. United Nations and Star Of India were two more trial winners who are in the running for Epsom at present.

Joseph O'Brien has intriguingly left in Buckaroo, who also has the option of the Irish 2000 Guineas this weekend. That colt is closely matched with Piz Badile, trained by Donnacha O'Brien, and who just beat him home in the Ballysax Stakes last month.

The betting is headed by Desert Crown, who made it two victories from as many starts when the impressive winner of the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on 12th May. His trainer Sir Michael Stoute is seeking a sixth Derby victory following Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kris Kin (2003), North Light (2004) and Workforce (2010). Currently the clear ante-post favourite at around 2-1 Desert Crown is owned by Saeed Suhail, who saw his silks carried to Derby success 19 years ago by Kris Kin.

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, seeking a third Derby success in five years following Masar (2018) and Adayar (2021), has two remaining entries - Nahanni, who is already a winner at Epsom Downs this season having taken the Listed Cazoo Blue Riband Trial at the Spring Meeting on April 19th and Walk Of Stars, runner-up to United Nations (Aidan O’Brien) in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial on 7th May.

The five-day confirmation and £75,000 supplementary entry stage, which offers a final opportunity to gain a place in the 2022 Derby line-up, is on Monday 30th May.