Last season's champion two-year-old Dawn Approach is among a record 17 second-stage entries for the Epsom Derby.

The unbeaten son of 2008 Epsom hero New Approach was added to the premier Classic at a cost of STG8,000 ($A11,700). He is already hot favourite for the 2000 Guineas.

As well as the Jim Bolger-trained Dawn Approach, Godolphin have also entered the Saeed bin Suroor-trained pair of Secret Number and Steeler.

First Cornerstone, owned by Team Valor whose runners include Dubai World Cup hero Animal Kingdom, has been put in by trainer Andy Oliver.

Winner of two of his first three starts, First Cornerstone was a creditable fourth to Kingsbarns in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October.

"First Cornerstone is in the Investec Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club and the Irish Derby," said the County Tyrone handler.

"The idea would be to start him off in a Derby trial and then we will pick out which one to go for from there. We will just weigh things up nearer the time but it gives us some options."

North Yorkshire trainer Ann Duffield has given an entry to Willie The Whipper.

The Whipper colt, bought by Qatar Racing, was second in the Group One Criterium De Saint-Cloud in November.

"We are looking at the Investec Derby for Willie The Whipper. It's obviously tilting at windmills but he has got decent form - second in that French Group One - and we have always thought he is a very nice horse so he is entitled to have an entry," said Duffield.

Four-times Derby winning trainer Sir Henry Cecil has made second entries for Al Waab, Frankel's half-brother Morpheus and Squire Osbaldeston.