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Highly talented colt will be joined by The Lion In Winter and Lambourn, with Puppet Master set to remain at Ballydoyle.

Aidan O'Brien currently has four horses left in the Epsom Derby, although the Ballydoyle handler confirmed his intention to only run three, with Puppet Master set to stay at home, leaving Delacroix, The Lion In Winter and Lambourn to make up a three-strong challenge.

"At the moment we're thinking of running three," he said. "Puppet Master was left in, but we think it will probably be Delacroix, Lambourn and The Lion In Winter."

Earlier in the week O'Brien revealed that he would expect that Ryan Moore will ride Delacroix, with the master of Ballydoyle pushing a similar notion when speaking on a press call organised by the Jockey Club.

He said: "It will all depend on what Ryan (Moore) will want to ride. Then it will be Wayne (Lordan) and then Colin Keane.

When asked his Ryan Moore would ride Delacroix, he responded: "I think so, obviously Ryan doesn't need to decide until 1pm tomorrow. Then it will be Wayne and Colin."

Delacroix tops the Epsom Derby betting as a general 9/4 chance, with O'Brien confirming him as Ballydoyle's number one following a pleasing preparation, which included a two-and-a-half-length reappearance success over the reopposing Lambourn in the Ballysax before comfortable victory in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

"Everything has gone well with him," said the Ballydoyle handler. "He's won his two trials well and that suits us for our horses. We always viewed him last year as a potential Derby horse.

"We were very happy with both runs, we found out that he got the not strongly run mile and a quarter and there's every chance he'll get the mile and a half.

"He's a big powerful horse. We feel that he's going the right way every week.

"He's a straightforward horse and he seems uncomplicated. I'd imagine if Ryan does ride him, he'll probably ride him forward, but he'll obviously decide that himself when the gates open really.

"His form is on all types of grounds. I think it was slow enough at Doncaster last year and he seems very off-handed and well-balanced."

Whilst Delacroix has enjoyed an uninterrupted preparation, the same cannot be said for one-time ante-post market leader The Lion Winter, who pulled hard on his

reappearance when only sixth behind Pride Of Arras in the Dante Stakes at York last month.

Following an impressive display on the Knavesmire in the Acomb Stakes as a two-year-old, The Lion In Winter was stepping up to beyond seven furlongs for the first time when racing over ten furlongs back at York, with the son of Sea The Stars now set to stretch out even further in distance on his second start of the season.

"He's done well," said O'Brien. "We think he's made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would.

"He was only just ready to start in the Dante. He was a bit fresh and obviously a bit behind fitness wise, but everything has gone well since. You're probably better off in a trial knowing that you're going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you're fit and everything goes right.

"We got a run into him; it looked as though he was going to get a mile and a quarter well in the Dante, he got a bit of interference in the straight and Ryan looked after him. If he hadn't of got that (interference) he might have been third and if he hadn't had run keen early, he might have been closer.

"He's a good traveller. That's what he did in the Acomb and in the Dante as well. Ryan was very happy with how he travelled in the Dante. He travelled down the straight well and when he was getting ready to have a go, he got a bit chopped.

"Obviously with a horse who was needing a run so badly that was a big disadvantage and Ryan just nursed him after that.

"This is only going to be his second run, and you'd imagine whatever he does he's going to come forward again."

O'Brien also provided an update on Lambourn, who finished second to Delacroix before landing the Chester Vase in workmanlike style in May.

He said: "He had a lovely race the first time and then he ran a lovely race at Chester. He should stay further, he's straightforward and he looks a well-balanced horse.

"He's a horse we're looking forward to seeing again."

On the importance of the Epsom Derby, O'Brien, who has won the race a record ten times, added: "It's the most important race of the year and the most important for the three-year-old generation."