Rod Millman spoke of his relief as Prince Nureyev was assured of a place in the Vodafone Derby to give him his first ever runner in the world's greatest horse race.

Millman survived the agony of elimination with Prince Nureyev by one but had sympathy with the connections of Albanov and Skelligs Rock, who have been denied a run in the £1,470,000 Classic at Epsom on Saturday.

The John Dunlop-trained Albanov and Skelligs Rock, from Brendan Duke's yard, are out of the blue riband of Flat racing because they were the lowest rated horses among the 22 declared at Thursday's 48-hour final declaration stage when the safety limit is 20.

"I've every sympathy with them - I was nearly there myself. It was a bit touch and go," said the Cullompton trainer on Thursday.

The only consolation for connections of the two horses concerned is that their entry fee totalling just under £7,000 will be refunded.

The unfortunate pair miss out as three higher rated horses - Kris Kin, Dutch Gold and Norse Dancer - were each supplemented on Monday at a cost of £90,000.

Millman believes that supplementaries should only come into play if the entry falls short of the maximum.

"I think you should be in from the start and if you have supplementary entries I think you should have them only if there aren't enough horses in there," he said.

"If you've paid your money from the word go you should get a run.

"But nobody wants to have an accident by having too many runners in there."

Epsom clerk of the course Andrew Cooper believes that having 20 as the maximum number is right.

"I'm sure it is disappointing for the connections of the two horses. But I don't think those connections have any dispute with the fact that 20 horses running in the race is the right number and it's a safe number," he said on Thursday.

"It's just unfortunate for them this year, in an open year, for the first time for a long time that we have got this situation."

But he does not agree with Millman's idea of supplementary entries only being used to fill up the numbers.

"I'm not talking about these specific examples, but I wouldn't want to see a poor horse take the place of a real crack supplementary and I don't think anyone sensibly would," he added.

Prince Nureyev may be the complete outsider of the field at 150-1 but Millman believes the Desert King colt will not be disgraced.

"We think he's got a good chance. A lot of them might not stay and our fella is bred to stay.

"Being realistic, third, fourth or fifth would be great for us. I don't think he's got the class to win a Derby."

And Millman revealed that Prince Nureyev met with a setback before he warmed up for Epsom by winning a handicap at Newbury three weeks ago.

"He'll be fit this time. He'd had 10 days in his box with a pulled muscle. That's why we didn't go for one of the proper Derby trials.

"We were all set to go to the Dee Stakes at Chester or a race like that. The plan was to go to the first Newbury meeting. He was too well in himself, he was spot on so we took a little pull on him. The next thing you know he was a bit silly and pulled a muscle.

"That's why we had a delayed prep. Steve (Drowne) said he blew with him. But since then he took him to Newbury and he worked super there. We're confident he'll put up a good run."

And the trainer is satisfied with the horse's 11 draw.

"You can't grumble about a middle draw, but you don't want to get behind non-stayers," he added.

As expected the Aidan O'Brien-trained Handel and Godolphin's New South Wales were scratched from the Derby on Thursday.

O'Brien, bidding to win the race for a record third year in a row runs four - ante-post favourite Brian Boru, Alberto Giacometti, The Great Gatsby and Balestrini.

Godolphin rely on Graikos, who will attempt to give Frankie Dettori an elusive first Derby triumph.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor is expecting a big run from the Rainbow Quest colt, who finished fifth to Magistretti in the Tote Dante Stakes at York on his seasonal debut last month.

"Graikos will appreciate the mile and a half of the Derby but he prefers softer ground.

"He has been training very well and he should run a big race," he told the Godolphin web-site.

Graikos has been drawn 13 in the 20-strong field for the 224th running of the Derby.

Of O'Brien's quartet, Alberto Giacometti will come out of stall nine, the same as the Ballydoyle trainer's winner 12 months ago, High Chaparral.

He will be ridden by the French-based Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon, who will be bidding to complete an across the Channel Derby double following his brilliant success on Dalakhani in the Prix du Jockey-Club last Sunday.

Brian Boru, the mount of stable jockey Michael Kinane is in stall two with The Great Gatsby, to be ridden by three-times Derby hero Pat Eddery, in 16, Balestrini, with Jamie Spencer in the plate, drawn 20.

Alamshar, who like Dalakhani is owned by the Aga Khan, is in stall eight for Irish trainer John Oxx, successful with Sinndar in 2000. His rider Johnny Murtagh is seeking his third Derby win after Sinndar and High Chaparral last year.

Refuse To Bend, bidding to be the first 2000 Guineas winner to follow on at Epsom since Nashwan in 1989, is drawn fairly low in six for Irish trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Pat Smullen.

Brett Doyle takes the ride on Clive Brittain's second string Lundy's Lane, who was third in the Italian Derby on his latest start while Charles Cyzer has booked Richard Hughes for Strength 'n Honour.

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Vodafone Derby betting,

William Hill: 11-4 Brian Boru, 3-1 Refuse To Bend, 7-2 Alamshar, 9-1 Alberto Giacometti, Kris Kin, 16-1 Dutch Gold, The Great Gatsby, Norse Dancer, 20-1 Shield, 22-1 Magistretti, 25-1 Franklins Gardens, 33-1 Graikos, 50-1 Dunhill Star, Let Me Try Again, 66-1 Balestrini, 100-1 Lundy's Lane, Strength 'N Honour, Summerland, Unigold, 150-1 Prince Nureyev.

Coral: 5-2 Brian Boru, 7-2 Alamshar, Refuse To Bend, 9-1 Alberto Giacometti, 14-1 Kris Kin, 16-1 Shield, 18-1 The Great Gatsby, Norse Dancer, 20-1 Dutch Gold, 22-1 Franklins Garden, Magistretti, 33-1 Graikos, 40-1 Dunhill Star, 50-1 Balestrini, Let Me Try Again, Summerland, Strength 'N Honour, Unigold, 80-1 Lundy's Lane, 100-1 Prince Nureyev.

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O'Brien walked the course at Epsom late Thursday afternoon along with jockey Michael Kinane, who partners Brian Boru, and Sue and John Magnier of Coolmore.

O'Brien said: "It walks as safe good to firm ground at the moment more or less all the way around. All everybody wants is safe ground.

"I have not really had the chance to study the draw yet - every race is different and the lads will suit themselves.

"It is more difficult with 20 runners but everybody is in the same boat."

When asked how his four runners - Brian Boru, Alberto Giacometti, Balestrini and The Great Gatsby - were, O'Brien added: "So far so good."