Queen's Carlton House in order as Fallon battles to ride Recital

The will-he, won't-he run saga of favourite Carlton House was ended with an emphatic promise from connections that not only will The Queen's colt take his place in the 13-strong field, the vibes surrounding him are nothing but positive. Not that the bookmakers, or punters, are quite ready to swallow such confidence - they are happy to lay the Sir Michael Stoute trained Ebor winner at 9-4, having battened down the hatches only last week by offering a prohibitive 5-4.

Conversely, the major challengers have been coming in for strong support. French raider Pour Moi is down to 4-1 and Aidan O'Brien's Recital is now 5-1, although he is now the subject of a new will-he, won't-he saga, namely will Kieren Fallon be allowed to ride him?

While Fallon was at Epsom finishing second in the Oaks, he was victorious in the High Court after a bid to stop him riding Recital was rejected. But, even after the judge's refusal to grant an injunction to the owners of Native Khan - who claimed Fallon had previously promised to ride their colt, and had gone back on his word to instead ride Recital - the dispute was prolonged to this morning because of an afternoon appeal. The Court of Appeal will give its ruling at 9am.

Mr Justice MacDuff, sitting in London, had been urged to grant an injunction by Native Khan's owner, Ibrahim Araci, to prevent him riding Recital. The owners of Native Khan claimed that Fallon had broken a "promise" to ride their horse and, under the terms of an agreement, should be prevented from riding another in the race. Fallon denied breach of contract and said there had been an "innocent misunderstanding".

Lawyers for Araci argued he had been "badly let down" by Fallon, who has won the Epsom Classic on three previous occasions, North Light (2004), Kris Kin (2003) and Oath (1999). Native Khan's connections shouldn't be too disheartened by the loss of Fallon, as they have a more than able deputy in Johnny Murtagh - triumphant in yesterday's Oaks - although there is no doubting the 'Fallon Factor' is always a big Derby plus, and he is strongly fancied to go close on Recital today if he's allowed the chance.

O'Brien is confident that Recital and Seville especially, out of the four runners he saddles in the Classic today, possess the requisite talent to make their presence felt.The Ballydoyle maestro trained Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) to win successive renewals of the Epsom highlight and believes he has a strong hand today.

Seville ran an excellent trial to chase home Carlton House in the Dante at York, while Recital's Derrinstown win was tainted slightly by his tendency to wander around in the run-in.

"We were very happy with Seville's run at York where he was only just ready to start," said O'Brien. "It was a slowly-run race, which didn't suit anybody really. Christophe (Soumillon] had to move up a little bit in the straight to keep his position, but we were delighted. We felt going to York that the horse would improve, like most of them have been doing, so I just hope that trend continues."

The critics were out to get Recital after he drifted across the track at Leopardstown, but O'Brien feels race tactics went against him on the day. "We were happy with Recital at Leopardstown. He's a very brilliant horse with an instant turn of toe," the multiple champion trainer continued. "Obviously the pace was strong and he got to the front with a big head-wind and started looking around. There was never any danger he was going to get caught and we've been happy with him since."

O'Brien insists he does not know which of his two protagonists will come out on top on the Downs as they have never worked together at home, but Recital appears to be the one that excites him the most. "They don't work together. They all have their own companions and they are all doing their own thing," O'Brien added.

"Obviously we discuss them and the lads will discuss them, but you're never sure until you put them together. Seville is a very solid-looking horse who should have no problem getting a mile and a half. Recital has that kick of brilliance in him and would definitely get a mile and a quarter and you have to take the rest on trust.

"He has plenty of class and usually a horse that travels the way he travels doesn't have any problem with the track."

Ballydoyle's other two contenders are Derrinstown runner-up Memphis Tennessee and Chester Vase scorer Treasure Beach.

Derrick Smith is part-owner of each of the O'Brien horses, and also Pour Moi. Andre Fabre's Prix Greffulhe winner impressed in a spin round Epsom at the Breakfast With The Stars morning last week. "Andre said he always sweats, as he did at the Breakfast With The Stars morning, and he'd be more concerned if he didn't do that," said Smith. "Pour Moi's action looked good - I listen to other people on those things, but everybody seemed impressed with him.

"The jockey seemed happy and when Andre is happy, everyone is happy. The Derby is still the number one race in the world."

Fabre exuded confidence after seeing his colt work at Epsom, and hopes he can become the first French-trained Derby winner since Empery in 1976."We don't have much time to judge horses so it is a feeling I have, it is the horse's conformation, his pedigree, the way he won first time this year - all those are indications but now he has to prove it on the track," said the French maestro.

Joining Pour Moi on the journey across the Channel is the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Vadamar, beaten into third when sent off at odds-on for the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. His owner the Aga Khan has enjoyed plenty of previous success in the Derby with Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1988), Sinndar (2001) and the great Shergar 30 years ago. His racing manager, Georges Rimaud, said: "Obviously Epsom is a tricky racecourse and we will find out on the day, but we think he is a reasonable candidate."

The final word belongs to connection of Cartlon House, although Recital is fancied to have the final word just after 4pm today. "It has not been one of the easiest weeks," said Her Majesty's bloodstock and racing advisor John Warren. "But I think all is on track now, it's very positive. I'm very hopeful he's got the right credentials, I just hope he's good enough."