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16:30 Epsom Downs

Saturday 3 June 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:3017:1517:50

Investec Derby (Group 1)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 33.02s

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(16)

Benbatl^h1,t1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 111| BF

20/1

Won his maiden in impressive fashion at Doncaster and not disgraced in the Craven where he shaped like he would benefit from a step up in trip. Duly impressed in the Dante last time when runner-up to Permian but has a bit on to turn the form around with that rival, particularly from this wide draw. First-time hood and first-time tongue-tie tried now.

Form: 132

(8)

Best Solution²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 113| D

12/1

Finished off 2016 with an excellent second of 13 in a Group 1 in France. Struggled a little over in Meydan this winter but back on track with a Listed win in the Derby trial at Lingfield last month and wasn't stopping, so could well get the extra 2½f trip here. Has more experience than most and he's versatile ground wise; no surprise to see him run well if his jockey can settle him just off the pace.

Form: 412-481

(10)

Capri²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

16/1

Good winner of a Group 2 at the Curragh beating Yucatan and leading home a 1-2 for this trainer but has fallen short in three subsequent outings including a close-up third in Leopardstown's Derby trial last month. All wins have come with yielding or soft in the going description so may want a little rain; Moore prefers the claims of Cliffs Of Moher.

Form: 1113-43

(13)

Cliffs Of Moher^t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

5/1

Easy winner at Leopardstown on his final start of 2016 and improved again to take a Listed race at Chester last time, winning with more ease than the winning margin suggests. Shapes like he'll enjoy this stamina test and gets the vote of stable-jockey but his draw is a slight concern and others have some more experience.

Form: 51-1

(7)

Cracksman³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109| C

7/2

Son of Frankel who won on debut at Newmarket in October and followed that up with a narrow victory in a Derby Trial here in April, getting up to beat Permian in the dying strides. That rival has franked the form, winning the Dante since so has to be considered on that form-line but trainer did want to get another run into him before this contest and he looks a little short on experience. Shouldn't be ruled out on that alone and could go well in the colours of 2015 winner Golden Horn.

Form: 1-1

(12)

Crowned Eagle^p1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 97

33/1

Off the mark in a maiden at Nottingham on the third attempt to end his two-year-old campaign and justified favouritism at Windsor last time in a handicap but plenty to find on form. Will need to find well in excess of a stone if he's to have any say here. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 331-1

(19)

Douglas Macarthur²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

25/1

Led home a 1-2-3 for his trainer in the Derby trial at Leopardstown last month and held on gamely to beat Yucatan and the re-opposing Capri. Both his wins to date have come on good to firm though and not looked quite as effective with cut in the ground. Fair bit to find on form and draw far from ideal.

Form: 1354-21

(1)

Dubai Thunder¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 100

9/1

Once raced Dubawi colt and a half-brother to Group 1 winner Farhh and other high class winners Racing History and Basem. Dam was a German 1m4f Group 1 winner. Beautifully bred and couldn't have won his maiden any more impressively at Newbury last month but very short on experience having only had one run and over-raced a little in the early stages on sole start. Won't get away with that here and needs a giant step forward to get involved.

Form: 1

(4)

Eminent²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: M Meade| OR: 112

5/1

Two wins from three starts with all of his runs coming at Newmarket. Won his maiden well last year after looking a little green in the early stages and impressive winner of the Craven Stakes on reappearance this year. Couldn't back that up in the 2,000 Guineas last time though and not sure to stay this trip so looks a little vulnerable here.

Form: 1-16

(18)

Glencadam Glory^h²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100

33/1

Missed the break badly on three of his four starts to date but did win at Doncaster on the occasion that he broke on terms at the end of last season. Given himself very little chance on his two starts this campaign but did run on well in the Derby trial at Lingfield last time behind re-opposing Best Solution. Hard to recommend with his stalls antics though and wide draw not ideal.

Form: 21-52

(6)

Khalidi⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 111

20/1

Four wins from eight starts. Won a hot looking Listed contest on second start this year but couldn't back that up when finishing 6L behind re-opposing Permian and while he did have to concede 3lb that day, he still has plenty to do to turn the form around with that rival. Got back on track in a Listed contest at Goodwood last time, seemingly enjoying the step up in trip and there could be more to come over a little further here. Dettori prefers Cracksman but he's probably the second-string from his trainer's five runners.

Form: 11-3131

(5)

Pealer^t²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 85

100/1

Beaten 1/6 favourite on first start this season in a Wolverhampton maiden and disappointing at Newmarket when fourth of 10. Justified odds-on favouritism at Southwell last time when thrashing a weak looking field but plenty to find on form and probably needs to find around two stone of improvement to have any sort of say here.

Form: 2-241

(3)

Permian¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 113

8/1

Third in Listed contest towards the end of last year but has improved out of sight this season. Narrowly defeated by Cracksman in a Derby trial around here but gained compensation in a Listed contest at Newmarket and followed up that effort with an impressive win in the Dante. Tracked what looked like a strong-pace, proving he didn't have to make all to win and stayed on gamely. Supplemented for this as a result and wasn't stopping that day so he has to be of interest here bearing in mind he's versatile with regards to ground and has plenty of experience under his belt, but more exposed than most.

Form: 53-3211

(15)

Rekindling¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W M Lordan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 109

25/1

Impressive winner of the Ballysax Stakes (Group 3) at Leopardstown back in April and shapes like he could be even better over this kind of trip. Douglas Macarthur, runner-up that day, has franked that form since with a win in a Derby trial at Leopardstown so form looks solid enough. Couldn't back that up in the Dante last time though and has work to do to turn the form around with Permian and Benbatl.

Form: 210-14

(11)

Salouen⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Fran Berry| T: S Kirk| OR: 110| BF

33/1

Finished runner-up in a Group 1 contest at Chantilly and followed that up with a third in the Racing Post Trophy to finish her two-year-old season off. Not disgraced when a close second on his comeback run and while his winning form is on good to firm ground, his best form in Group 1 events he contested came on good ground. Step up in trip is a question mark but does have stamina in his pedigree and could outrun his likely big odds.

Form: 12123-2

(2)

The Anvil²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Anastasia O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

66/1

Just a maiden win to his name at Dundalk and finished third in a 1-2-3 for his trainer in the Chester Vase last time but has plenty to find on all known form and would appear to be down the order on jockey bookings.

Form: 3230-13

(9)

Venice Beach^p,t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| D

12/1

Led home a 1-2-3 for his trainer in the Chester Vase last time. Proven with cut in the ground having won his maiden on yielding ground at Tipperary the time before and still looks unexposed. Good each-way chance with no stamina doubts, more to come and proven in the conditions.

Form: 2-311

(14)

Wings Of Eagles²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

40/1

Runner-up behind Venice Beach in the Chester Vase last time and that run can be upgraded a little as the winner had the run of the race somewhat but looks down the order on jockey bookings here. Draw not ideal and gives the impression he wouldn't want to see any rain in the build up.

Form: 7149-2

Non-Runners

(17)

Diore Lia²²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: J R Jenkins J: Patrick Pilley

Forecasts

Cracksman (7/2), Cliffs Of Moher (5/1), Eminent (5/1), Permian (8/1), Dubai Thunder (9/1), Best Solution (12/1), Venice Beach (12/1), Capri (16/1), Benbatl (20/1), Khalidi (20/1), Douglas Macarthur (25/1), Rekindling (25/1), Glencadam Glory (33/1), Salouen (33/1), Crowned Eagle (33/1), Wings Of Eagles (40/1), The Anvil (66/1), Pealer (100/1), Diore Lia (500/1)

Wide open renewal of this year's Investec Derby sees 19 runners declared with Aidan O'Brien and John Gosden training 11 of the entries between them. The former's best hope would appear to be Cliffs Of Moher after a dominant win at Chester last time out. However, it's Gosden's colt CRACKSMAN, in the colours of 2015 winner Golden Horn, who makes most appeal. He got up late to deny Permian last time out and that rival has advertised the form well since, winning the Dante at York. Lack of experience would be the main concern but the fact we know he handles the track offsets that and he could be even better over further. The aforementioned Mark Johnston winner isn't without a chance after being supplemented for this after his Dante win while Salouen and Best Solution are solid each-way contenders.