Epsom Derby tips: Dark horse outsiders to consider for June 7 Classic

TENNESSEE STUD

• Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
• Timeform rating: 109 p
• General odds: 33/1

The 2000 Guineas looked a terrific Derby trial at Newmarket, the winner Ruling Court among those likely to be heading for Epsom, and will be fascinating to see how it plays out at Chester, Lingfield, York and beyond over the next few days and weeks.

In Ireland, this Sunday’s Cashel Palace Derby Trial Stakes could have a major bearing on the antepost market as Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix bids to follow up his comeback success in the Ballysax at the end of March.

It’ll take a decent horse to lower his colours and he’s already as short at 10/1 for the Derby but he’s hoping going to be coming up against Tennessee Stud and it’s the Joseph O’Brien-trained colt who interests me most at the prices.

O’Brien (jnr) has already got one over on his old man with this horse, who beat odds-on Ballydoyle hope Shackleton in a Tipperary maiden last September and he proved that to be no flash in the pan when splitting Hotazhell and Andrew Balding’s Windlord in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh later that month.

Having stayed the trip well when successful upped to 10 furlongs for the first time in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud at the back end of the season, Tennessee Stud brings so much untapped potential into his Classic campaign and I can’t imagine he was loving the heavy ground in Saint-Cloud.

A mile and a half should be right up his street this year based on breeding but narrow second to subsequent Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell shows he’s got gears too and the 33/1 on offer now for the Derby will be long gone if he proves he’s trained on as hoped at Leopardstown on Sunday.

WATCH: Tennessee Stud goes down fighting in the Beresford Stakes

PRIDE OF ARRAS

• Trainer: Ralph Beckett
• Timeform rating: 90 P
• General odds: 66/1

Having won the Oaks on a couple of occasions and now the Arc last year with Bluestocking, it’s safe to assume the Betfred Derby is going to be top of Ralph Beckett’s bucket-list.

That’s seemingly reflected in the fact he entered a dozen horses in this year’s Epsom Classic and among that lot it’s definitely 66/1 shot Pride Of Arras who appeals.

A sizeable New Bay colt who is closely related to a number of middle-distance winners, Pride Of Arras was the subject of strong market support ahead of his August debut in a mile maiden at Sandown and eventually won quite impressively having looked a little green and half-asleep around three furlongs from home.

The bare form isn't earth-shattering but the second and third have won races since and are both rated in the 90s which helps add some context as Pride Of Arras won going away by three and a quarter lengths on good going.

Recent winners of that particular Sandown contest include Too Darn Hot and Beckett's 2022 Derby third and Irish Derby hero Westover so we could be looking at another colt of considerable potential despite the fact he's not been sighted in public since ("had a small issue after he won" according to the trainer).

Entered in the Dante at York later in the month, it could be that Beckett takes the colt to the Knavesmire given he's not in at Lingfield this weekend.

WATCH: Pride Of Arras makes no mistake as favourite on his Sandown debut

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