Preview - Epsom, 3:45 - Investec Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f

The biggest race in the horseracing calendar and one that has produced some extraordinary horses over the years. Last year's event was won by Jim Bolger's New Approach, who put in a terrific performance to put him up there with the best Derby winners in recent times, those being the emphatic Motivator and Aidan O'Brien's majestic Galileo. This year's race looks a top-class renewal and the market is lead by 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars, closely followed by O'Brien's pair of Fame And Glory and Rip Van Winkle.

Sea The Stars is a deserved favourite after winning the Guineas in the style of a high-class horse. After winning the prestigious Group 2 Beresford Stakes on his final two-year-old start, he arrived at Newmarket with high expectations from his shrewd connections. He won in the manner of an extremely gifted individual under a confident Mick Kinane. After being up with the pace throughout, he showed a blistering turn of foot in the final furlong to clear away from runner-up Delegator, in the end winning with his ears pricked to suggest he had more in his locker. The vibes surrounding this half-brother to Classic-winning hero Galileo have been that he was always a Derby horse, but just happened to be good enough to win a Guineas, which is four furlongs short of this demanding stamina at Epsom. On pedigree, he looks sure to stay the distance and he is well built type who should handle the undulations at this unique course. His trainer John Oxx has only had two Derby runners, one was placed and he won this race in 2000 with Sinndar. He is rarely brings his horses over from Ireland unless they will be thereabouts, as highlighted by Sea The Stars' performance in the 2,000 Guineas. The ground is good and will be perfect for this exciting colt, who will be worth millions if he is able to produce a rare Classic double. At 3/1 he looks a good price, and with his class adding to his strapping physique and dangerous turn of foot, it would take a seriously good horse to deny him his second Classic victory this season.

Fame And Glory is unbeaten and represents Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien, who has six entries in this race. This son of Montjeu made his seasonal debut in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown and produced a superb performance to win by a length. That win impressed many racewatchers and bookmakers and he was quickly cut to 5/2 favourite for the race. He arguably put in a career-best performance next time out in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trail Stakes, again at Leopardstown, where he annihilated his opposition to score by a widening five lengths. Both recent wins came over 1m 2f and he was not stopping at the finish in either race and these extra two furlongs will be well within reach. He has followed the same route as Galileo, who took this race in 2001, and there is every reason to believe this colt could be as good. He will relish the good ground and looks sure to run a huge race. He has been relatively weak in the market, mainly just to the Ballydoyle jockey bookings. Earlier on in the week, O'Brien's number one jockey Johnny Murtagh decided to partner Rip Van Winkle over Fame And Glory, causing many bookmakers to ease him out in the betting. Seamus Heffernan takes the mount instead and he is a more than adequate replacement; he also rode him last time out in the Derrinstown Stakes.

Rip Van Winkle has long been a talking horse at O'Brien's establishment but has so far yet to produce the goods when it comes to the track. He finished his two-year-old career at Newmarket, where he came seventh. He was well supported but was always too far back to land a blow, even though he was staying on towards the finish to be within two lengths of the leader. He made his seasonal debut in the 2,000 Guineas, won by Sea The Stars, and again failed to shine. He was expected to go close but could only muster a more than creditable fourth. He was only two lengths down and was finishing the race very strongly, suggesting that this trip of 1m 4f will be within range. Johnny Murtagh had the pick of the Ballydoyle sextet but after long deliberation, chose to partner this son of Galileo. He stated that he had a 'soft spot' for him and that he believed he had the potential to land a race like this. He has ability in abundance but can be a bit of a difficult ride. He is a colt of some potential and he will have been primed to run the race of his life. He has been well backed all week but unlike Sea The Stars who has proven form, Rip Van Winkle will need to improve to feature here. He will last the extra distance and will appreciate this quick ground, so improvement cannot be ruled out.

Gan Amhras represents last year's winning trainer and jockey of Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning. After coming a close second in the Goffs Million at the Curragh towards the end of last season, he made his seasonal debut in the 2,000 Guineas. His performance that day suggested that he would be far better suited to this longer trip and based on that evidence, is entitled to serious respect. He ran on to finish third, despite never looking likely to win having been up the pace throughout and could only plug on at the one pace. He has been well supported in to around 7/1 and if he can improve from his Newmarket run he could make the placings. He is also a son of Galileo and will stay the distance and will go on the ground.

Black Bear Island has a live each-way chance based on his recent Dante Stakes win at York. He made his seasonal debut in France but could only finish third, even though it a muddling affair run at a false pace. Like all of O'Brien's horses, he made significant improvement from his first run of the year and produced somewhat of a shock in York's registered Derby Trial, which has been a strong indicator in recent times and has produced three winners of the Derby in the past five years. He was ridden by Colm O'Donoghue that day and only just edged out stablemate Freemantle in a driving finish. He was settled in plum last throughout before coming with a strong challenge down the outside. He swept past all his rivals and won by a head, even though he was not stopping at the line. He will stay this extra distance and has solid claims at 8/1. This son of Sadler's Wells will be ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore and he looks sure to give his trainer yet another chance to add more Classic glory to his already-bulging trophy cabinet.

O'Brien has two other horses in the line-up. Masterofthehorse will need to improve to win this but ran a good race in defeat in the Chester Vase last month. He was set too much to do that day and was staying on well inside the final furlong. The extra distance will suit but he may lack the class of the first four mentioned. Age Of Aquarius is still inexperienced having had only three runs, but he put in a gutsy performance to land the Lingfield Derby Trial last month. He was allowed to make the running that day but struggled to put daylight between himself and his rivals but once he was headed, he fought back in eye-catching style. Like Masterofthehorse, he may lack the class of his more fancied stablemates.

Only two English challenges in this year's Derby, those coming from Crowded House and Kite Wood. Crowded House was installed as favourite for this race after an impressive performance in the Racing Post Trophy last season, that coming over 1m. He was expected to win the Dante before arriving here but he struggled to land a blow that day and weakened into eighth. He apparently scoped dirty after the race and is expected to put up a better showing here. Kite Wood represents Goldophin and will improve from his good run in the Dante, where he finished two lengths down in fifth. He will like the trip and ground but might struggle to keep pace with the market principles.

Selections: 1st - Sea The Stars, 2nd - Black Bear Island, 3rd - Fame And Glory.

Result - 1st - Sea The Stars, 11/4, 2nd - Fame And Glory, 9/4 fav, 3rd - Masterofthehorse, 16/1.

A remarkable performance from a remarkable horse in the shape of Sea The Stars. He is an individual who simply oozes class in every way, be it his gorgeous looks or his cruising speed similar to that of a Ferrari. His trainer was very confident he would stay the extra four furlongs and the result was never in doubt for this relation to Galileo as the brilliant Mick Kinane had him perfectly positioned throughout. He was keen during the first two furlongs but his jockey quickly settled him into a nice rhythm and was placed in third throughout. Aidan O'Brien's pacemaker, Golden Sword, set a solid pace and kicked four lengths clear rounding Tattenham corner. However, the speed shown by Sea The Stars when asked to make up ground on the leader was immense and he steadily drew alongside before powering into the lead inside the final furlong. Kinane did not have to get serious with this colt of huge ability and he stayed on strongly from favourite Fame and Glory to win by a length and half and become the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to land the Guineas/Derby double. His trainer stated that plans to go for the Triple Crown are unclear but he could also go to the Arc at the end of the season as well as the Irish Derby at the Curragh. There are so many superlatives to describe the superb Sea The Stars but his two performances this season highlight him as one of the best three-year-olds seen in a long while. It is estimated that he is worth £40 million and his trainer, jockey and owner can be proud of their efforts in enabling the racing public to witness a masterful horse in his prime. Fame And Glory was backed into favouritism before the off as a huge influx of money came in for him. He was settled in mid-division under Seamus Heffernan and he began to move three furlongs out. He was still three lengths behind Sea The Stars but began to stay on nicely but in truth he never looked like getting to the impressive winner. He is a high-class horse and it is likely he will re-oppose the winner in the Irish Derby. Masterofthehorse ran a game race in third and improved considerably from his seasonal debut in the Chester Vase. He stayed the trip well enough and a nice race will come his way. Rip Van Winkle ran an eye-catching race as he was staying on again, as he did in the Guineas, but was simply outclassed. Johnny Murtagh made a bold decision to partner him earlier on during the week and even though Fame And Glory finished ahead, he will still no doubt be pleased with his colt's performance. He is likely to drop back in trip and go for the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. Golden Sword ran his heart out in fifth and gave Ballydoyle a second, third, fourth and fifth placing. Crowded House came here with something to prove but he ran with credit to finish six, even though he was six lengths behind the leading pack. He was switched to the outside by Jamie Spencer and began to motor but did not last home. Two disappoints in a high-class renewal were Black Bear Island and Gan Amhras. Black Bear Island looked to have sound each-way claims after his Dante win but he struggled to land a blow. He finished a long way behind the winner and this could not have been his true running. Gan Amhras was quietly fancied by his connections but he never travelled. He may not have handled this unique track and on a flatter course, may be able to reproduce his Guineas third.