Gan Amhras to complete a double for Bolger team

::RATINGS are from 1 to 5. The higher the rating, the better the chance.

AGE OF AQUARIUS (2): Was only workmanlike when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial, but that race has proved a reliable yardstick over the years and this staying type is likely to be running on when others have cried enough. May be more of a St Leger type than a Derby winner.

BLACK BEAR ISLAND (3): Did not get the credit he deserved for winning the Dante Stakes at York. It is not easy to give ground away on the Knavesmire, so this colt performed quite a feat to win in such good style after coming from off the pace. As a brother to 2002 Derby winner High Chapparal, Black Bear Island should love the extra distance of this race and looks a feasible each-way bet.

CROWDED HOUSE (2): Shot to the head of the market for this race when producing a dazzling turn of foot to win the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last autumn. Flopped in the Dante and although there were legitimate excuses for that display (scoped badly) Crowded House has it all to prove.

DEBUSSY (3): A progressive colt who won a trial over this course from a horse (Midday) fancied to win today’s Oaks. Behind Golden Sword and Masterofthehorse, both of whom reoppose tomorrow, at Chester last time, but hated the fast ground and his proven ability to act around this course makes nonsense of his current odds of 66-1.

FAME AND GLORY (4): Unbeaten colt who won a significant Derby Trial by five lengths at Leopardstown last time. Surprising that stable jockey Jonny Murtagh has chosen not to ride him, but Jamie Heffernan won’t mind that and this colt has every chance. Swished his tail last time, but his sire, Montjeu, tends to impart quirks in his offspring so he must be given the benefit of the doubt.

GAN AMHRAS (5): Ran only three times as a juvenile, but showed abundant promise (including when beating Masterofthehorse) and confirmed he had trained on when a fine third to Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his reappearance. There is every chance that the Guineas provided the best clue to this race and, with his pedigree screaming middle-distance performer, Gan Amhras has a great chance of providing trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning with their second successive Derby winner following New Approach a year ago.

GOLDEN SWORD (3): Won the Chester Vase under an aggressive frontrunning ride, but was given too much rope by his rivals which included Masterofthehorse (second) and Debussy (third). It could be wrong to consider his win a fluke, however, and few will stay better than this son of 2002 Derby hero High Chapparal.

KITE WOOD (2): A leading two-year-old when trained by Michael Jarvis, Kite Wood is a relentless galloper who ran a decent fifth to Black Bear Island on his reppearance at York. Should run a respectable race for Godolphin, but hard to see him giving Frankie Dettori a second success following Authorised’s victory two years ago.

MASTEROFTHEHORSE (2): Given a poor ride by Johnny Murtagh when a fast-finishing second to stable companion Golden Sword at Chester. Obviously has lots of ability, but Gan Amhras had his measure as a juvenile and has posted better form this season, too.

MONTAFF (2): Ran a great race to be second, beaten a neck, by Age Of Aquarius in the Lingfield Derby Trial. Trainer Mick Channon insists that run was needed badly and that his colt has improved significantly, so much so that he has likened him to his top-class middle-distance performer Youmzain. Channon may be right, but the form book suggests otherwise and this is a particularly hot Epsom Derby.

RIP VAN WINKLE (4): The choice of Johnny Murtagh from six Aidan O’Brien horses. A fast-finishing fourth in the 2000 Guineas, Rip Van Winkle is the apple of his jockey’s eye and will win many big races. That said, his pedigree suggests a mile and a quarter will be his trip and, in any case, I see no reason why he will finish ahead of his Newmarket conqueror Gan Amhras over a trip more suited to his rival.

SEA THE STARS (4): As a son of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Urban Sea, this colt is bred in the purple. By brilliant miler Cape Cross, he showed enough speed to win the 2000 Guineas in great style, but he will clearly stay further given his dam’s stamina influence. However, his trainer John Oxx considers Sea The Stars only 50-50 to last the mile and a half and, given the colt’s cramped odds, he represents little in the way of value.



Conclusion: A vintage renewal of the great race. Aidan O’Brien saddles six viable contenders, but such an approach suggests he does not have a truly outstanding candidate. Fame And Glory, with stamina virtually assured and plenty of class as well, looks his best hope, but Sea The Stars and Gan Amhras boast the best recent form.

At the respective prices, GAN AMHRAS looks the value bet, with Debussy a possible to make the frame at long odds.

1, Gan Amhras 2, Sea The Stars 3, Fame And Glory.

THE Derby field was reduced to 12 this morning when William Haggas' South Easter was ruled out of the race after scoping badly with barely 24 hours to go before the Classic.