Queen's horse heads to Epsom as favourite

EPSOM, England (AP):

A horse owned by Queen Elizabeth II is set to start as a favourite in Saturday's English Derby, Britain's richest race with prize money of $2 million.

Carlton House has been declared for the 1¹/²-mile race despite a late scare over swelling in his near-foreleg. He heads a list of 17 runners for the most prestigious of the five classics in Britain's flat-racing season.

A 3-year-old colt trained by Michael Stoute, Carlton House has attracted big interest because of his royal connections and victory in last month's Dante Stakes in York.

The Queen has never won the Derby but she has entered nine horses this year and Stoute is a five-time winner of the race, including last year with Workforce.

Latest odds: Carlton House - 7/4, Pour Moi - 7/2, Recital - 5/1, Seville - 7/1, Native Khan - 10/1, Ocean War - 16/1, Vadamar - 16/1, Masked Marvel - 25/1, Treasure Beach - 25/1, Memphis Tennessee - 33/1, Pisco Sour - 100/1, Marhaba Malyoon - 200/1, Castlemorris King - 500/1.