Horse-by-horse guide to Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom

Benbatl
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Second (4/1 fav) to Permian in the Dante just six weeks after winning debut in seven furlong maiden. Third, beaten two lengths by Eminent in the Craven between those two runs so chance depends largely on how much more there is to come just over a fortnight on from York. Out of a Group One-winning Selkirk mare and rain may well suit but slight doubt as to the trip, as per many of these. Each-way contender.

Best Solution
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, Jockey: Pat Cosgrave

Stablemate of Benbatl who is much more exposed, having won Lingfield Derby Trial on ninth start last time. Group One second as a juvenile came on soft so forecast rain no issue and that's supported by breeding, which is unspectacular versus the opposition but does scream testing ground. Joint top on BHA ratings and looks a certain stayer so must be considered.

Capri
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Backed earlier in the week despite defeats in both Ballysax and Derrinstown, two notable trials which suggest the Aidan O'Brien team might be much of a muchness. Third, one place behind Best Solution in October's Grand Criterium de Saint-Cloud, had previously won on heavy and looks a stayer. Challenging for St Leger favouritism.

Cliffs Of Moher
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Sexiest profile of the Ballydoyle battalion, having won Dee Stakes at odds-on last time on first run of the year. Certainly caught the eye in both starts as a juvenile, given an educational ride on debut before dotting up (form solid) in Leopardstown maiden. Dam was a five-furlong winner but wouldn't be the first such Galileo colt to stay the trip well. Similar in profile to last year's runner-up for the yard and could go off favourite.

Cracksman
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Unbeaten Frankel colt who has course experience having won the Epsom Derby Trial last time out, getting up close home to beat subsequent Dante winner a head. Needs to improve again even to uphold that form, you'd think, and some stamina doubts, albeit dam got a mile and a quarter well and on testing ground, too. Vibes from the yard not as strong as expected but sure to be popular.

Crowned Eagle
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

Maiden form reads well enough and made a mockery of opening mark (85) to win a Windsor handicap eased down on return to action. Dam won the Further Flight over 1m6f and step up in trip is expected to suit this beautifully-bred type. Revised rating of 97 confirms there's work to do to get competitive but connections not usually minded to tilt at windmills and could outrun big odds.

Douglas Macarthur
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Good trial form having followed second in Ballysax with game Derrinstown win, and was on the heels of some of these in the Grand Criterium de Saint-Cloud when fourth having helped force a decent gallop. Should stay but likely to be up there from the off once more and therefore vulnerable late on, despite having little to find on the form book.

Dubai Thunder
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor, Jockey: Adam Kirby

Once-raced Dubawi colt out of a Group One winner at this trip. Couldn't have been more impressive on debut, albeit soft ground may not have suited several rivals, but hard to know how good he is on the back of that. Rating of 100 can only be an educated guess and remains to be seen how accurate it proves, however winning a big-field Derby two weeks after your first start is not far off mission impossible.

Eminent
Trainer: Martyn Meade, Jockey: Jim Crowley

Frankel colt who has long been considered a top middle-distance prospect. Raced solely at a mile so far, winning first two, including the Craven when seeing out his race really strongly. Shade disappointing even allowing for a relative speed test on fast ground in the 2000 Guineas, when sixth, but wouldn't be the first to go from mid-pack finish there to a big run here (Kingston Hill one such type). Probably short enough in the market but sound chance.

Glencadam Glory
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: James Doyle

Can miss the break and did so when second to Best Solution at Lingfield last time. No match for the winner that day but this slightly longer trip should help, as would a better break. Best part of a stone to find even so and not expected to figure.

Khalidi
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Pat Smullen

Supplemented following impressive success in the Cocked Hat, and runners from that Goodwood race have gone well in the Derby before. Six lengths to find with Permian on previous Newmarket run but was sent off a warm favourite that day and can perhaps be forgiven, having become unbalanced at one stage. Not without a chance at a price for top yard.

Pealer
Trainer: John Gosden, Jockey: Silvestre de Sousa

Campanologist colt who won by 19 lengths last time, but that was a Southwell maiden and he's only up 2lb to 85 on the back of it. As such, 100/1 odds appear correct and may even struggle to fulfil duties if asked to pace-make.

Permian
Trainer: Mark Johnston, Jockey: William Buick

Supplemented following Dante win, arguably the strongest trial form. Had earlier won Newmarket Listed race impressively on the back of narrow second to Cracksman, so connections absolutely right to have a go at the main prize. This will be his 11th start and experience could count for plenty in big field; then again, others have greater scope to improve. Trip should be fine and will run his race.

Rekindling
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Dante fourth who had previously caused a surprise in winning the Ballysax, with Douglas Macarthur second and Capri fourth. No fluke about that but equally no reason to see why he'd reverse form with those ahead of him at York, although is among the more stoutly bred and won't mind a bit of cut should rain materialise.

Salouen
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk, Jockey: Fran Berry

Consistent type who was second in the Feilden on return, form which looks stronger now following winner Khalidi's Goodwood effort. Difficult to see why he'd be three-times the price of the Gosden horse and some hope he'll stay on pedigree, while official rating of 110 puts him within 3lb of the best of these and ahead of the top two in the market. Clearly more to it than that and perhaps lacks scope, but 66/1 looks wrong for a horse twice placed at Group One level.

The Anvil
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Third to a pair of stablemates in the Chester Vase on the back of easy all-weather maiden win. Highly-tried as a juvenile, including last of 10 in Racing Post Trophy and third, beaten favourite, behind Best Solution at Newmarket. Will stay but probably not good enough and could be sacrificed up front.

Venice Beach
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Chester Vase winner who had earlier landed a maiden over this distance. Half-brother to Arc winner Danedream so no surprise he's improved with time and trip, and while there might be an issue around tactical pace he should be coming home strongly. In a wide-open Derby, one of the more interesting ones and should run well from close to the pace.

Wings Of Eagles
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien, Jockey: TBC

Second in the Vase and possible to mark up that effort given that he hadn't been seen since October and still looked to be learning on the job. Behind a few of these in juvenile Group One but did catch the eye having been given plenty to do that day and the type to keep on improving. Son of a Derby winner and another with an each-way shout.

Diore Lia
Trainer: John Jenkins, Jockey: Gina Mangan

Controversial entry having been beaten miles in two poor maidens. No chance.

Verdict

A wide-open renewal in which the proven stamina of Venice Beach earns him the vote.

He might not have been anywhere near the top of the Ballydoyle list last year but has improved for a step up in trip and was thoroughly professional at Chester.

Cliffs Of Moher looked like he'd improve a bundle for winning at the same track and can emerge as the danger, with Benbatl the pick of three interesting Godolphin runners.

Salouen is a huge price on form and shouldn't be totally discounted - he's entitled to finish wherever Khalidi does and the pair are each-way players.