THIS year’s Derby is one of the most interesting in years – largely because anything could win it.
Even if I found a tenner in the street I wouldn’t go near ridiculous 7-4 favourite City Of Troy.
He is trained by Aidan O’Brien and had some good quality form last season but he was destroyed in the 2,000 Guineas and the step up half a mile will need to work miracles.
His sire has a history of producing high-class two-year-olds that never really train on and that may be the case here.
There has been a lot of talk about Auguste Rodin who was 12th in the Guineas before coming back to win the Derby last year and that’s fair enough.
But he was bred to need the Derby trip – his dam had been second in the Oaks – and he went off at 9-2.
That’s the sort of price I would need City Of Troy to be before even thinking about backing him.
It’s such a shame that Arabian Crown has been forced out as he would have had a huge say.
Similar comments apply to Dante winner Economics but he’s a big horse and trainer William Haggas is adamant that Epsom is not for him.
So who can you give a chance to?
At 16-1, ANCIENT WISDOM looks solid each-way.
He was second in the Dante and improved as the race went on.
He looks tailor made for the 1m4f of the Derby trip and goes on any ground.
That was a decent comeback at York and he’ll improve for it. At the prices, he looks a solid bet.
DIEGO VELAZQUEZ was being targeted at the French Derby but he could pivot to Epsom after his good fourth in the French 2,000 Guineas – especially now that Aidan O’Brien could do with firing a few darts at the race.
He was less than a length away at Longchamp and is bred to improve for a longer trip.
This son of Frankel could well stay the 1m4f as he was certainly boxing on in the closing stages.
Some bookies are only 12-1 for the Derby but there’s some 16s about if you shop around and that looks pretty fair.
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