16:30 Epsom Downs

Saturday 1 June 2019

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

Investec Derby Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 16:33 | Winning time: 2m 33.38s

(7)

Anthony Van Dyck²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| BF| D

13/2

Won three times as a juvenile including the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and ran well in defeat at Group 1 level, shaping like he would be better over further. Confirmed that when an impressive winner in Lingfield's Derby trial; fascinating contender.

Form: 11239-1

(12)

Bangkok³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 104

9/1

Very impressive when winning a red-hot maiden at Doncaster on return (Telecaster second) and stepped up again when winning a Sandown Group 3 last time. Every chance he will stay this trip on breeding and should appreciate forecast conditions.

Form: 244-11

(8)

Broome²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 114

4/1

Bolted up in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes on return at Leopardstown (often a strong race for the grade) and shaped like he could be even better over this trip when winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby trial subsequently; big run likely.

Form: 1622-11

(5)

Circus Maximus^p1²³

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

10/1

Maiden winner at Gowran (heavy) as a juvenile and only beaten 1L in a Doncaster Group 1 in October. Won better than the margin suggested in the Dee Stakes at Chester on return but must take another sizable step forward; wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5134-1

(3)

Hiroshima²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: B Doyle| T: J Ryan| OR: 87| D

100/1

Bolted up in a maiden at Southwell (1m4f) on return but beaten a long way from home in the Derby trial at Lingfield. Faster ground will probably suit but has a lot to find on the bare form.

Form: 7-18

(9)

Humanitarian¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95

33/1

Narrowly denied in a hot Newmarket maiden and has justified odds-on favouritism in two starts since. Has a lot more on his plate here and not certain to stay this trip given his pedigree, though did stay on at Salisbury last time over 1m2f.

Form: 21-1

(11)

Japan¹⁶

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

20/1

Won Listowel maiden (heavy) in September and stayed on well to win the Group 2 Beresford Stakes later that month at Naas. Weak in the market when well beaten in the Dante on return and while he should improve now stepped up in trip, he will need to.

Form: 711-4

(1)

Line Of Duty^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 114

25/1

Enjoyed a fine 2018 season that culminated in a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Well beaten in the Dante on return and while his sire is Galileo, he seems to have a lot of speed for a potential Derby horse; wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 22111-7

(6)

Madhmoon²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Prendergast| OR: 113

10/1

Won both starts as a juvenile, the latter of which was the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown (Broome second). Excellent effort in the Guineas last time when fourth but not guaranteed to appreciate this kind of stamina test.

Form: 11-24

(10)

Norway^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

33/1

Won a Listed race at Newmarket as a juvenile before a respectable run in a French Group 1. Form of that race not working out too well though and he was beaten a long way by Sir Dragonet at Chester on return; down the order on jockey bookings.

Form: 53114-2

(13)

Sir Dragonet²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115| D

11/4

Unbeaten in two starts and took a huge step forward from debut when beating re-opposing stablemate Norway by 8L in the Chester Vase. Looks short on experience for this test and draw not ideal but worth noting he's first-string on jockey bookings.

Form: 11

(4)

Sovereign²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

50/1

Just a maiden win to his name to date and has been in behind Broome in his two starts this season in a pair of Leopardstown Group 3 contests. Up in trip but looks exposed and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 6143-23

(2)

Telecaster¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Morrison| OR: 115

5/1

Big run on debut when second behind re-opposing Bangkok (front two pulled 9L clear) and confirmed the promise of that when bolting up at Windsor in a good time. Even better when dominant in the Dante and potentially more to come over this new trip.

Form: 211

Forecasts

Sir Dragonet (11/4), Broome (4/1), Telecaster (5/1), Anthony Van Dyck (13/2), Bangkok (9/1), Madhmoon (10/1), Circus Maximus (10/1), Japan (20/1), Line Of Duty (25/1), Humanitarian (33/1), Norway (33/1), Sovereign (50/1), Hiroshima (100/1)

The Dante has proved to be a good trial for this race down the years and TELECASTER could hardly have landed the race in better fashion this year, going away again at the line. There's every chance he could be better over this longer trip given that his dam was placed in both the Epsom and Irish Oaks and he's the tentative selection in a wide-open renewal. Aidan' O'Brien bids for his seven win in this race and he has three realistic candidates. Broome gives the impression he could be even better over this longer trip and Anthony Van Dyck denied a market drift when landing the Lingfield Derby trial. Sir Dragonet is the pick of Ryan Moore but could prove to be a little short on experience.