Galileo spirit with Aidan O'Brien for shot at eighth Epsom Derby

If Aidan O’Brien wins the Investec Derby for the eighth time on Saturday it will give the Irish trainer the outright record - bettering the one he currently shares with three other trainers from the distant past - for most wins in the world’s greatest Flat race. It looks like he will have six chances.

But the circumstances of the delayed start to the season and a lack of trials which he described as ‘difficult for everyone’ will, he explained, make it one of the most interesting renewals. “Horses could come from out of the clouds,” he said.

Never a great one for putting his horses in a pecking order, he could just as likely win it with a Royal Ascot winner, Russian Emperor, as a maiden, Amhran Na Bhjiann, or even the colt which was their ‘Derby horse’ going into the winter, Mogul, though he has to improve a lot on his first start.

“We usually use the trials as trials and everyone learns about our horses and what’s what at the same time as we do. It could happen for any of them. They all have different profiles and are at different stages of their training and careers.

“It’s going to be interesting. It was the same with the Irish Derby last Saturday. All we can ask for is that each horse gets a good clear run.”

O’Brien’s first winner was Galileo in 2001. It is no surprise, given Galileo’s status as a super-sire and the circular nature of these things, that five out of six of his intended runners this year are by Galileo.

“We have some unbelievable memories of Epsom starting with Galileo,” said O’Brien. “It is the total ultimate test of a racehorse; physical, mental, the trip, the contours. It’s been that way for a long time and that’s what John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith breed their horses for, to have the speed, the stamina, the courage and it comes at a time of year when they are after getting a chance to mature.

“We drive past a statue of Nijinsky, the Triple Crown winner (trained at Ballydoyle) at the gates. Dr (Vincent) O’Brien left no stone unturned (turning it into a place where Derby winners could be trained to the point of building a gallop to recreate Tattenham Corner). We’re in a very privileged position. The template was there.

“Epsom is not an easy track, it’s hard uphill, up and down, left and right. If you go in not ready you might not survive – it is sport at the very top. Horses, trainers, jockeys, we’ll all be put to the test.”

With Irish jockeys unsure whether a potential 14-day quarantine for visiting Britain will be lifted or not, O’Brien has turned to British jockeys William Buick, James Doyle and Adam Kirby to supplement stable jockey Ryan Moore and may send a couple of jockeys over to complete the six.

Should he get the record, though, the trainer himself will not be there. “I’ll be very relaxed watching it on television,” he said. “We’ve a very good team over there and we’ll hand it over the lads on the ground.”