Kieren Fallon takes Recital for Derby

KIEREN Fallon has chosen to ride the Aidan O'Brien-trained Recital, rather than Ed Dunlop's Native Khan, in the Investec Derby on Saturday.

The three-time winner of the Premier Classic has opted for the colt whom he partnered to victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, rather than go for the 2,000 Guineas third.

The Native Khan ride will instead go to Johnny Murtagh, who was confirmed in the role last night. Dunlop had approached Olivier Peslier, who partnered Native Khan in the 2,000 Guineas, but the French veteran has been retained by the Wertheimer brothers to ride at Longchamp on the same afternoon, and so Murtagh has been given the nod.

Dunlop said: "We've got a very able deputy in Johnny Murtagh who is an outstanding jockey around Epsom and I'm very happy with that."

Earlier Dunlop said: "Obviously I'm disappointed for the clients who specifically wanted Kieren, but the enticement of the great Ballydoyle battleship steered him towards their horse."

O'Brien is set to have four runners, with Christophe Soumillon aboard Dante runner-up Seville, Colm O'Donoghue riding Treasure Beach and the trainer's son, Joseph, on Memphis Tennessee. The riding arrangements were revealed by O'Brien's wife, Anne-Marie, on her Twitter account. The Irish trainer has also left in Roderic O'Connor among the 17 horses confirmed at the five-day stage, but the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner is instead likely to run in the French Derby at Chantilly on Sunday.

Carlton House is the hot favourite to give The Queen a first victory in the Derby, for which 17 colts have stood their ground.

"Carlton House is on target for Epsom," said The Queen's racing manager John Warren. "He had a nice blow yesterday at Newmarket and the trainer is very happy with him at this point.

"Carlton House will be kept ticking over this week.

"There is excitement all round and I think the whole country is starting to focus on it and everyone is excited by the prospect."

Meanwhile, on a busy day of racing yesterday, Set The Trend claimed an all-the-way win in the West Sussex County Times On House Stakes at Goodwood.

Andrew Balding's five-year-old impressed when winning an Ascot handicap last year and his comeback fourth at Doncaster suggested he possessed the requisite talent to strike at Listed level.

Soon in front in the hands of Jimmy Fortune, Set The Trend bowled along merrily for much of the one-mile contest, and turned on the taps rounding the approach for home. His rivals were soon hard at work in behind, but could not reel in Set The Trend, who passed the post with a length and a quarter in hand.

The Rectifier filled the runner-up spot, while Group One-placed filly and hot favourite Rainfall ran terribly on her Godolphin debut, coming home last of the six runners.