3 minute read

Because it is FA Cup final day as well so 10.30 pm for those of us on Eastern Aus Time.

It's always difficult to rule out anything in the Derby as Epsom is such a particular course however the pin has landed on 3 of them.

If Auguste Rodin is on song he should win this – he's beautifully bred by Japanese star Deep Impact out of Rhododendron so we suggest ignore his last run and hope that his class comes to the fore here – on top on 5/2.

Military Order is by Frankel and owned by Godolphin with William Buick on board for Charlie Appleby – he's 9/2.  And we have a hunch about Passenger, by Ulysses, trained by Sir Michael Stoute who knows better than anyone how to prepare a horse for this race.  Richard Kingscote has the ride and they are value at 5/1.

Others that would not make us fall off the sofa if they won include The Foxes, a son of Churchill trained by Andrew Balding with Oisin Murphy riding and an interesting one in Waipira, by Australia but named for a place in New Zealand where the name means "alcohol" and owned by Hong Kong people.  He's on 14/1 and Tom Marquand will be on board for Ed Walker.

Also on the card we have the Diomed G3 over 1700m with 8 runners.  Highland Avenue would be hard to beat here on 13/8 with Kaisai on 3/1 and Al Mubhin 7/2.

The Princess Elizabeth is G3 over 1700m with 6 f&m competing.  The Ralph Beckett trained Prosperous Voyage is on 3/2 with Dettori riding.  We always think that this should be the name for a Mendelssohn offspring (composer of the overture "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage") but she's by Zoffany.

Ryan Moore is back riding a Stoute horse here with Potopova who is on 9/4.