The Derby Tips: Two To Take On City Of Troy At Epsom

Arguably the most prestigious race in the flat racing calendar on British shores, The Derby takes centre stage at Epsom on Saturday when a bumper field in comparison to recent years clash for a place among racing immortality. The narrative has been all about how Aidan O'Brien will get City Of Troy back to his best, but there are plenty of likeable sorts ready to steal the spotlight and Billy Grimshaw has a full race preview for us to digest...

I'll start with what you're here for. I'm not having City Of Troy in the 2024 Derby. Egg could be all over my face by 5pm, I'm aware, as on two year old form he is by a long way the best horse in this race. Then again, how often have we seen star juveniles be surpasses over the winter as they turn three? Yes, Aidan O'Brien worked miracles to get Auguste Rodin to win the Derby of 2023 after a Guineas flop, but he has since proven himself as a thoroughly inconsistent sort who has off days aplenty.

The manner of defeat for City Of Troy at Newmarket cannot be downplayed in its poorness and with the draw now also against him, even with his price drifting I'm happy to put a line through him. I've come round  As the week has progressed I've warmed to his stablemate Los Angeles and would back the perceived second string in a match bet were that my only punting avenue this weekend - mercifully, it's not!

He is unbeaten in three starts and being a Camelot colt, he is clearly bred for the job here. Last time out he won the Leopardstown Derby Trial despite dwelling in the stalls at the start and looking to have given himself plenty to do. He was hard not to tip up, but I've managed to leave him alone. I was keen on Ancient Wisdom earlier this week when the forecasters proclaimed a biblical downpour was imminent at Epsom, but with that not materialising I think he could well be outpaced by a few. He would've loved a muddy Derby but now won't get it.

Ambiente Friendly will have plenty of supporters after his commanding win in the Lingfield Derby Trial last time out, although I do suspect favourite Illinois was well below par in second that day and the race - to my eye anyway - looked a sub standard Derby trial. He is too short now and I also think the same can be said of Macduff, who was interesting at 25/1 and bigger but not at his current price, and Dancing Gemini.

The latter named recently ran out a fine second in France in Classic over there, but with his price now floating around 12/1 I have to add a horse who finished in front of him last season in DEIRA MILE to the staking plan. That run at Doncaster - a race in which Ancient Wisdom came out on top on heavy ground - was not exactly a brilliant performance by my pick here to finish fourth, however I'm convinced he doesn't want it that testing and will appreciate the surface he faces at Epsom.

His win last time out at Windsor was run of the mill stuff but on visual impression the way he kicked clear of the field when asked to put the race to bed was impressive. Maybe he simply won't be good enough, but I did like that finishing effort and will keep him onside each-way in an open looking Derby.

Excuse me for tipping two in a race but in a sixteen runner Derby I think I'll allow myself the luxury. I have to back EUPHORIC considering his profile. He was beaten fair and square by Los Angeles last time out but we have seen on countless occasions in The Derby that the Aidan O'Brien horses can switch form on each other, and with this race looking to lack any obvious pace I would be kicking myself were I to let this fella go unbacked and see him bound into a big lead a la Serpentine back in 2020.

On the Leopardstown run I am not sure there is as much between Euphoric and Los Angeles as the prices make out at the time of writing, with the outsider here having to fend off challengers before the eventual winner swallowed him up. He may simply be in here to pace-make, but I'll take a chance on backing him win-only in the hope we see another Ballydoyle also-ran switch from bridesmaid to bride on the biggest stage of all.