Epsom Derby Each-Way Tips: Westover the each-way play

This year's Cazoo Derby looks set to be one of the most hotly contested in recent years. With a field of seventeen set to take their chance bookmakers are offering extra places and we have tasked Billy Grimshaw with picking out some each-way value...

Desert Crown looked fiendishly impressive in his Dante win, and if the colt improves further for another start after winning the famous Derby trial at York on just his second start then he will be a tough nut to crack in the Classic. Stone Age is second favourite in behind Sir Michael Stoute's charge and he is another who looked out of the ordinary with his Leopardstown romp in the Derby trial at the track. However, it is not out of the question one or both could meet trouble or not take to the unique test of Epsom and with such a stacked field in behind the top two in the market there is some each-way value to be had.

Nations Pride is the third favourite and after his supplementation it is clear Godolphin are keen on his chances. Charlie Appleby of course won this race last year and it would be a special achievement to go back to back. Changingoftheguard won well at Chester and Aidan O'Brien's second (or third, or fourth) strings are never ones to discount when it comes to the Derby due to their outstanding pedigrees. Star of India also won at Chester and falls into the same bracket, while Piz Badile is an intriguing runner for Aidan O'Brien's son Donnacha, and will undoubtedly be popular with Frankie on board.

The horse I think is worth backing each-way comes close behind the aforementioned runners in the market and is WESTOVER for Ralph Beckett and Rob Hornby. He has had just the four runs and the son of Frankel reappeared as a three year old in a hot looking race at Newbury, the Group Three Bet365 Classic trial over a mile and two. He saw off hot favourite Goldrush that day and despite his greenness won the race well. During that run he took a keen hold at the start, edged both left and right on the run in but still had enough to see off Cash in second.

The style in which he won that day marked him to my eye as one who still has bundles of improvement to come and this is the sort of profile I like when looking for a potential Derby winner. It is rare any colt at this stage of the season will have shown their full hand, but in Westover Beckett clearly has an outstandingly talented horse on his hands to have managed to win last time out despite all he did wrong. If the handler has managed to calm his runner down and he has learned to settle better, he can cruise into this race and exemplify the stamina Frankel so often gives his progeny to at least hit the frame if not trouble the leaders come the finishing post.