Aidan O'Brien's guide to his leading Derby candidates

Pierre Bonnard is viewed by Aidan O’Brien as his prime contender for the Betfred Derby at Epsom.

Fourth on his debut at Leopardstown, the Camelot colt went on to win his maiden at Dundalk before the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket and the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Despite winning big races all over the world, O’Brien still views the Epsom Classic as the pinnacle of the sport.

He said: “The Derby is still the race, it’s what the whole breed is based on. You can kid yourself about other races and some of them are great for the older horses but anyone that breeds a horse, that is where they are aimed.

“Some of them don’t do an awful lot after it because it is such a tough race. It’s the ultimate test, mental, physical, they have to be quick, they have to stay. It’s a brutal race, but that is the way it has to be, unforgiving. It’s the race the whole breed is based on. It’s just the way it is.”

Regarding Pierre Bonnard, currently around 6-1 for the Derby, O’Brien said when hosting the media on Monday: “Pierre Bonnard is being trained for Epsom, we’re very happy with him. He might have the two Irish trials (Ballysax and Leopardstown Trial) before it.

“He’s very straightforward, he’s a big Camelot, he’s very relaxed and chilled. Christophe (Soumillon) was always super impressed by him, Ryan (Moore) rode him for the first time yesterday morning.

“I remember running him at Leopardstown first time and the next time going to Dundalk I was afraid, but Wayne (Lordan) said he’d handle the surface no bother and he loved it so that means he’ll handle fast ground.

“You’d imagine he’ll get a mile and a half well because he’s so relaxed. He’s big and he’s classy and he’s done very well. He’s a big, rangy horse.”

Hawk Mountain and Action, first and second in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, are also on the Derby trail but France could come into it for the winner.

“Hawk Mountain will be trained for Epsom or France,” said O’Brien.

“If some of the other horses go to Epsom he’d be possible to go to France as he’d be very comfortable at a mile and a quarter. He’ll run in a trial somewhere first. Listening to the lads he could be going to France and he could have a trial for it, but we’ll see what happens with the Epsom horses.

“Action is very well. He ran a very good race at Doncaster and will be trained for a Derby, I’d imagine he will be trained for Epsom. Obviously he could go to Chester or Leopardstown for a trial. At the moment we are thinking Pierre Bonard is doing the two Leopardstown trials, but obviously something will run with him. He looks an Epsom type.”

As usual, O’Brien has several three-year-old colts who at this stage might not have achieved as much as some but could develop into Classic contenders.

He said: “Constitution River could be another French Derby type or he could be Epsom. He had a mishap after winning the Futurity (at the Curragh). We think he could be and Irish Guineas, French Derby type.

“Benvenuto Cellini, or Newspaperofrecord (dam) I call him. He’s an Epsom horse I’d say, he’s done very well. He’s a great mover and Epsom will probably suit him.

“We’re very happy with Montreal. We think he’ll get the Derby trip but you couldn’t be sure. We think he’s a legitimate Epsom horse.

“Causeway looks a nice horse, he looks like a horse who will stay. Montreal is one who took a big step forward from his first run to his second while Isaac Newton is a very dark horse.

“Port Ferdinand did well to win at Naas from a bad draw in bad ground, he’s going to stay. He’s out of a very good mare.

“Straight Up will probably be trained by a Derby trial or something like that. He was dropped out too far at Newmarket in the Autumn Stakes, he’s a lot better than that.”

One who is unlikely to make Epsom but is clearly well regarded is the unraced George Stubbs.

“We always thought the world of George Stubbs which is why we gave him the name,” said O’Brien. “But every time we gave him one last piece of work before running he disappointed.

“He’s a mile-and-a-half horse. He’s called George Stubbs because everything about him is beautiful. He won’t get out to be a Derby horse, but he could end up at (Royal) Ascot. Maybe he was just a little weak.”