Aidan O'Brien has been forced to change his Epsom travel plans, due to an earlier Derby start time of 1:30pm to avoid a clash with the FA Cup Final.

Aidan O'Brien's runners have traditionally flown in on the day of the race but the revised programme for this year's Derby meeting has meant all of the Ballydoyle runners will leave on Thursday.

O'Brien said: "They are leaving Ballydoyle on Thursday afternoon, I think that's the plan. We usually travel on the day, but with the early start we couldn't take that risk.

"We don't have any choice other than to take them earlier this year, we think it's the sensible thing to do and the responsible thing to do.

"The fillies' race [Oaks on Friday] is not as early as the colts, but we're sending them early so they are doing the same route as the colts.

"We just think it's the responsible thing to do for everybody involved and we'll see what happens."

Further disruption on Derby Day seems likely with animal rights protestors Animal Rising poised to cause delays to proceedings and rail strikes affecting travel plans for spectators.

The Jockey Club were granted a High Court Injunction on Friday, which is hoped to discourage members of Animal Rising entering the track.

On the matter of protestors, O'Brien said: "It's out of our control. Any delay would be a big negative. Things happen every day to test us all and you just have to make the best of a situation whichever way it has fallen and it will be the same for everybody, that's all any of us can do really.

"Obviously it is not ideal for anybody [if there is a delay]. The horses, the people involved, everybody.

"Hopefully everybody will see sense and it won't be like that, but all any of us can do is our best and hopefully everybody will see sense and look at the welfare of the animals and people and everybody first."