16:55 Epsom Downs

Saturday 4 July 2020

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5517:35

Investec Derby (Group 1)

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 2m 34.43s

(5)

Amhran Na Bhfiann²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: A P O'Brien

66/1

Very green on debut but marked improvement when fourth of 18 in a Leopardstown maiden behind three stablesmates last month. Travelled wide throughout that contest and the form has been boosted since but will clearly need to improve.

Form: 0-4

(4)

Emissary^p1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: H Palmer| OR: 98| BF

40/1

Winner at Wolverhampton on debut but that form has taken knocks since; stepped up on that run when second in a Listed race at Goodwood behind Khalifa Sat but that's not the strongest form in here by some stretch; wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 1-2

(1)

English King²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: E Walker| OR: 112| D

10/3

Improved from debut to win a Newcastle maiden cosily and impressive when beating a 104-rated rival (runner-up in Queen's Vase since) in Lingfield's Derby trial; had plenty in hand that day and holds leading claims but the draw is a sizable negative.

Form: 71-1

(16)

Gold Maze⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 103

150/1

Runner-up in a Curragh Group 3 but that form hasn't worked out and he was beaten 11¼L in the Irish Derby last week. May have finished closer if settling better in the early stages but still has plenty to prove returning quickly here.

Form: 53-26

(13)

Highland Chief^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: P & O Cole| OR: 107

20/1

Improved when winning a Royal Ascot handicap, making relentless headway from the rear to get up; well suited by a strong gallop that day and should get that again here but will needs to improve plenty for this longer trip; soft ground would suit.

Form: 136-1

(11)

Kameko²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 119

5/2

Group 1 winner at Newcastle and returned with impressive Guineas triumph last month. Worth upgrading that run (new course record) and that's the best form but significant doubt about this trip against 1m4f specialists, particularly on this ground.

Form: 1221-1

(14)

Khalifa Sat²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A M Balding| OR: 99

50/1

Improved from his maiden win to land a Listed race at Goodwood on return last month; getting the better of Emissary; plenty to find on form.

Form: 61-1

(7)

Max Vega³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 110

33/1

Beat some useful sorts in the Zetland Stakes in 2019 and probably unsuited to switch to AW in Group 3 Classic Trial at Kempton on return. Good chance that soft ground and this longer trip will be his bag but still has a lot to find on the bare form.

Form: 211-5

(2)

Mogul¹⁸

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

7/1

Group 2 winner as a 2yo and he needed further behind Kameko in the Vertem Futurity; needed the run behind Pyledriver at Royal Ascot on return but good chance he can reverse that form and it's telling that he's the pick of Ryan Moore; draw not ideal.

Form: 2114-4

(15)

Mohican Heights¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 104

25/1

Listed winner on debut for this yard at Salisbury; nothing special about that form but shaped with a lot of promise behind Pyledriver on return; making good headway late. Stamina assured but needs to come on from that to mix it here.

Form: 11-3

(10)

Mythical²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

100/1

Group 1 placed in France as a 2yo; returned lame at the Curragh when disappointing at odds on in Group 3 company; not one of the yard's stronger contenders on all known form.

Form: 6143-5

(3)

Pyledriver¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 110| D

16/1

2yo Listed winner and took a big step forward from his second in the Classic Trial at Kempton on return when beating two of these rivals at Royal Ascot; proven at the trip and on the ground but almost certain to need another chunk of improvement.

Form: 1417-21

(6)

Russian Emperor¹⁷

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

6/1

Runner-up in a Group 3 at Leopardstown on return but took a big step forward from that when beating a nice prospect in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Shapes like he will relish this longer trip and could improve again.

Form: 3-121

(12)

Serpentine^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: E J McNamara| T: A P O'Brien

25/1

Came on for his reappearance when bolting up in a maiden at the Curragh last weekend; turned out again quickly and plenty more needed on form but will relish this step up in trip at least.

Form: 0-51

(8)

Vatican City²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112

17/2

Impressive when winning a Dundalk maiden and took a big step forward to finish second in the Irish Guineas; while no match for the winner, he didn't get an ideal run that day and did his best work in the finish, suggesting this longer trip may suit.

Form: 51-2

(9)

Worthily²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Harley| T: J & T Gosden

40/1

Won a nice looking maiden at Newbury on debut last month; step up in trip will suit but he has a huge step up in class here and the fact that stable jockey Dettori is permitted to ride for another yard isn't a vote of confidence.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Kameko (5/2), English King (10/3), Russian Emperor (6/1), Mogul (7/1), Vatican City (17/2), Pyledriver (16/1), Highland Chief (20/1), Serpentine (25/1), Mohican Heights (25/1), Max Vega (33/1), Emissary (40/1), Worthily (40/1), Khalifa Sat (50/1), Amhran Na Bhfiann (66/1), Mythical (100/1), Gold Maze (150/1)

There was a lot to like about the manner of English King's win in the Lingfield Derby Trial and he may have been the selection here if it wasn't for a tricky draw in stall one. However, given that he's been ante post favourite and unlikely to represent much value, a chance is taken on RUSSIAN EMPEROR who was impressive at Royal Ascot last time out, shaping like he would appreciate this step up in trip. Aidan O'Brien's first-string Mogul should come on for his latest start and he's another to consider while Max Vega might represent a bit of each-way value; his trainer has enjoyed Classic success here in the Oaks twice before.