A big field for the Derby, the biggest since Kris Kin won in 2003. 13 English, 4 Irish, and 2 French.

The Irish

Ryan Moore has plumbed for Delacroix over The Loin In Winter and Lambourn, the trio trained in Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien.

Delacroix is rightly favourite, he’s very genuine, a race record of 4 from 7 mightn’t seem great, but he was second in all the other runs. Second to Green Impact, twice, on debut and in the G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes (Green Impact, winner when dropped in class at Leopardstown yesterday), and when beaten a nose by Hotazhell in a G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes (third in the Irish 2000 Guineas).

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Last year his wins, a Maiden at the Curragh, and then when stepped up in class, the G2 Autumn Stakes, he took it a a neck from Stanhope Gardens at Newmarket, and this year, he won the G3 Ballysax Stakes, beating Lambourn 2¼L, and then took the G3 Leopardstown Derby Trial with Tenesse Stud 6¾L back in third, both were impressive, each a step up on before.

Lambourn will have Wayne Lordan in the saddle. A winner of a Killarney Maiden, he moved up in class, taking a Listed Race in France, back on home turf, he lacked gears in the G2 Beresford Stakes, trailing in last. This year, it’s back to good, the second in the Ballsax was improved upon at Chester in the Vase, where he won going away.

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Overtaken in the ante-post market is the third Ballydoyle representative, The Loin In Winter, the mount of Colin Keane. He’d held the position of favourite all through the winter after a convincing win at the Curragh first time out, when second string that day and hence ridden by Wayne. Ryan took over for this next outing, the G2 Acomb at York, where he was a convincing winner. Both runs were over 7f, a distance he wasn’t bred for, by Sea The Stars out of a mare who only raced at middle distances; staying is in his blood. This year we were well warned, he was slow to come to hand, the Dante was a must if he was to make this, he’d improve a bucket. In fairness, that’s how he ran when beaten 4l by Pride Of Arras.

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Joseph O’Brien sends Tennessee Stud, under Dylan Browne McGonagle, a race record of 2 from 5 doesn’t read great, but his last two runs last year were significant, beaten ¾L in the G2 Beresford, he went one better in France when taking the G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud over 1m2f on heavy ground. Hardy horse. He’s only had the one run this year, in the Ballysax when third to Delacriox, beaten 6¾L. Joseph says he, too, will come on buckets.

The French

Two runners, both supplemented, for £75,000.

Midak, trained by Francis Henri Graffard, the mount of Mickael Barzalona, will wear the silks of the Aga Khan. The race fittingly will be run in his honour, he’s a five-time winner of it, Shergar, Shahrastini, Kahyasi, Sinndar and Harzand.

Can Midak do it? Unbeaten in his three runs, all this year, he’s got better with every run. A Maiden win on the All-Weather, a Conditions event at Chantilly, then a ready winner of the G3 Prix Greffulhe over 1m2f.

Juddemonte also got the cheque book out, Henri F Devin sends New Ground with Alexis Pouchin aboard. Two runs at two yielded two wins. Two runs this year yielded two thirds, beaten 1L on both occasions, by Caulificar in the first, who finished second in the Prix du Jockey Club last week.

The English

Vying for favouritism is Charlie Appleby’s Ruling Court with William Buick in the plate for owners Godolphin. He won the 2000 Guineas last time out and is bred for the trip.

Pride Of Arras goes for Ralph Becket with Rossa Ryan up top. Only twice raced, he was an easy winner at Sandown over 1m last year and took the G2 Dante at York this year over 1m2f where he was a ready winner from John and Thady Gosden’s Damysus.

Stanhope Gardens also runs for Ralph Becket with Hector Couch aboard, he’s only a neck to find with Delacroix from the Autumn Stakes last year and was an easy winner over 1m this year at Salisbury.

Nightwalker is another for John and Thady Gosden, who’ll be partnered by Tom Marquand. A second runner in the Juddmonte colours, he ran fifth in the Dante, beaten 3½L, not getting there but nearest at finish.

Tornado Alert is another for Godolphin, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, with Oisin Murphy booked. He ran a cracker in fourth in the 2000 Guineas.

Tuscan Hills goes for Amo Racing, trained by Raphael E Freire, he’s the mount of David Egan, he’s up against it based on the Dante, seventh, beaten 4¼L.

Lazy Griff will be in the Middleham Park colours, trained by Charlie Johnston. He’ll have the benefit of Christophe Soumillon in the saddle. He was 1½L behind Lambourn in the Chester Vase.

Sea Scout is Simon and Ed Chrisford’s representative, with Harry Davies on top. A winner here at Epsom in the Blue Riband Trial, he was well behind in the Dante thereafter.

Al Wasl Storm, Green Storm, Nightime Dance and Rouge Impact make up the Field.

Summing Up

There could be a bunch finish to this. Luck in running will be needed with such a big field. Pride Of Arras and Ruling Court will be therabouts, as will Midak. Delacroix, if he gets a clear run, will be hard to beat, The Loin In Winter’s class may tell, however, a chance is taken on Tennesse Stud, he was given a good break after his win in France in November and will come on a ton from his Leopardstown run when 6¾L behind Delacroix. With rain forecast, he could put up a bold show.

Recommendation

Tennessee Stud 33/1 ew

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