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The William Haggas-trained Our Channel is set to take his place in the Investec Derby on Saturday, June 7 after gaining an automatic entry in the premier Classic when scoring at Epsom Downs this afternoon.
The US-bred landed today's Investec Derby Trial for owner Abdulla Al Mansoori and connections are keen to take up the opportunity to run in the Investec Derby.
"We are in the Investec Derby now and I think the owner would love to run so that would be the plan," said Haggas's wife Maureen. "The owner was instrumental in coming here today and, while I'm not certain Our Channel will stay a mile and a half, there's only one Derby so we'll give it a go. It's up to William and Mr Al Mansoori but I don't think he'd run again before the Investec Derby.
"Maybe on better ground he might get a bit further. He's a very nice, honest horse and I thought Ryan (Moore) gave him a lovely ride and got him relaxed and switched off in front."
Our Channel will be Al Mansoori's first runner in the Investec Derby and the owner's racing manager, Bruce Raymond, added: "It will take a lot to put off the owner from running in the Investec Derby. He's very keen to go.
"Mr Al Mansoori instructed Jono Mills to buy the horse from the Kempton breeze-up sales and then he won at Beverley very comfortably in not a bad maiden. He doesn't look as if he needs any more experience, he's seen Epsom today and got round Beverley as well."
Coral, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, make Our Channel a 66/1 chance for the Investec Derby.
The winner of today's Investec Derby Trial automatically received an entry for the Investec Derby, providing they were not a gelding or already entered. The only way for a horse to now be added to the Investec Derby is at the £75,000 supplementary entry stage on Monday, June 2.
The Investec Derby has a prize fund of at least £1,325,000 and is run over a mile and a half at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 7, day two of the Investec Derby Festival.