The countdown to the Derby continued yesterday when Aidan O'Brien visited Epsom. The Ballydoyle trainer went to the track on what was described as a "preliminary check" before he decides for definite on which of his team will run in the Derby in eight days.

King Of Kings, Saratoga Springs and Second Empire all still figure in the Derby betting although Saratoga Springs is scheduled to appear first in Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

A final decision as to which of the colts will represent O'Brien will not be taken until next week but it's understood that Pat Eddery will be brought in to ride the "second string" should there be two Ballydoyle trained animals running in the Derby.

The first Derby to be contested, however, will be Sunday's French Derby where Saratoga Springs will fly the Irish flag. The Dante winner has been made joint favourite with the local Prix Lupin winner Croco Rouge in most ante-post lists and will be ridden by Michael Kinane. Ireland has won France's premier classic twice with Assert in 1982 and Caerleon the following year.

O'Brien will also have a runner in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat on the same Chantilly card. Chateau Royal will be diverted from the Italian Derby on the same day to run in the nine furlong race won last year by Starborough.

Desert Fox will now be Ballydoyle's sole runner in the Italian Derby where he will be joined by Dermot Weld's Bold Raparee, the mount of Walter Swinburn.

Closer to home, O'Brien intends running Risk Material in next Friday's Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh.