Michael Kinane has spoken of the difficulty he faced in choosing Brian Boru from a strong hand of Aidan O'Brien's four Vodafone Derby runners ahead of tomorrow's premier Classic at Epsom.

Kinane, who plumped for last season's Racing Post Trophy winner ahead of Alberto Giacometti, The Great Gatsby and Balestrini, got it wrong 12 months ago.

He went for Hawk Wing, only to be beaten by High Chaparral, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, and he fears being wrong again.

"It was a close call and it is very possible I could be on the wrong one. There's not a lot between them. Whoever gets the best run could swing it their way," he told attheraces.

"Hopefully Brian Boru will improve. He has to improve, but all our horses have been improving from their first run.

"The handicapper says he's probably just marginally the best of our horses. I always knew from last year that he was probably my Derby ride and I'm hoping that I am right."

Brian Boru only finished third to Alamshar and The Great Gatsby in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown last month on his seasonal reappearance but he was giving the first two 5lb.

"The Leopardstown race wasn't run to suit my horse's strengths. They went steady then they quickened in a hurry from about four out and at that point The Great Gatsby had probably got eight or nine lengths start on him and Johnny Murtagh on Alamshar had about four on him. And he was trying to give them 5lb as well," said Kinane.

"You'd have had to be a good horse on the day to do that. So whereas my initial reaction was that I was a shade disappointed I feel that he will improve for that performance."

He feels that Alberto Giacometti, third in the Prix Lupin to Dalakhani and Super Celebre, who were first and second in last Sunday's Prix du Jockey-Club, also has a good chance.

"Everyone says the French form is strong," added Kinane.

"How strong that will be, you will have to gauge through Alberto Giacometti. He was disappointing on his first start at Leopardstown but left that a good bit behind him.

"I was impressed with the French race and thought they were smart colts.

"I think a mile and a half should help this colt."

John Oxx, who saddled Sinndar to win racing's blue riband in 2000, is keeping his feet firmly on the ground as he prepares Alamshar for the £1,470,000 contest.

"He's a nice horse, he's done everything we've asked of him so far, so now we have just have to give him the big test and see what happens," he BBC Sport.

"The Derby winner is invariably the best three-year-old of the year. It is precisely that he can overcome the shape of the track that it throws up the best horse every year."

Jockey Johnny Murtagh added: "I would prefer it fast as it would inconvenience a few of the others.

"He does go on the ground and he is tough and genuine. I don't think I'll be able to use the ground as an excuse.

"Hopefully he'll get a clear run. He's in the middle, drawn eight, and hopefully I'll be able to pick my way through the field.

"If he's two lengths off them with two to run I'd think he'd be hard to beat."

As well as O'Brien's quartet and Alamshar, Ireland have another leading contender in Refuse To Bend.

The Dermot Weld-trained colt bids to become the first horse since Nashwan 14 years ago to win both the Sagitta 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

His rider Pat Smullen said: "The horse is well and I don't think the ground will bother him as long as it doesn't go fast.

"By the time the Guineas was run at Newmarket it was quick ground and he handled it well."

But Sir Michael Stoute is hoping for rain for his hope Kris Kin, who was supplemented on Monday at a cost of £90,000.

"We are hoping he runs well - we've put a lot of money in to do this.

"We were thinking of going the French Derby route with him, but I felt that was a very good race this year," the trainer told BBC Sport.

"I would welcome some rain for him, and I'm sure he will stay. He indicated at Chester (where he won the Philip Leverhulme Dee Stakes) that another one and a half furlongs would not be a problem.

"It's just whether he is good enough."

Clive Brittain, successful with Warrsan in today's Coronation Cup, fancies his chances with Dutch Gold and Lundy's Lane.

"If the ground eases, Dutch Gold will have an outstanding chance. Had it stayed firm the way Lundy's Lane ran in Italy he would have to be fancied. But both will equip themselves well," he told BBC Sport.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford was not confident about the chances of Graikos.

He said: "He's a big outsider. On all known evidence he has to improve a lot to get into the shake-up.

"If there is a massive amount of rain between now and tomorrow his chances will increase but otherwise I think Frankie will have to wait another year for his first Derby."

Vodafone Derby betting:

Ladbrokes: 7-2 Alamshar, Brian Boru, Refuse To Bend, 9-1 Alberto Giacometti, 12-1 Kris Kin, Norse Dancer, 16-1 The Great Gatsby, 20-1 Dutch Gold, Franklins Gardens, Magistretti, Shield, 25-1 Graikos, 50-1 bar.