Derby runners and riders

Vodafone Derby
1m 4f, Epsom, Saturday 7 June 1600 BST
Number, form, horse's name, age, weight, trainer, jockey.
Odds are a guide for information purposes only.

By Elizabeth Hudson

Verdict: Casual Conquest's win in Ireland has marked him out as the one to beat but this is a reasonably open renewal of the premier Classic. New Approach obviously has the talent, King of Rome has an interesting jockey booked in Johnny Murtagh and Curtain Call and Tartan Bearer are set to lead the home challenge. It's a tricky one to call.

606: DEBATE Who do you think will win the Derby?

Pinsticker's choice:
1 Casual Conquest 2 Tartan Bearer 3 Curtain Call

Race preview

---

1 1223-4 ALAN DEVONSHIRE 3 9-0
Mark Tompkins Paul Mulrennan
Was fourth in the Lingfield Derby trial and probably has as much chance of winning here as West Ham have of winning the Premier League next season.
Rating: 2/10 Odds: 250-1

2 831-41 ALESSANDRO VOLTO 3 9-0
Aidan O'Brien Seamus Heffernan
Had mixed form as a two-year-old but beat stablemate King of Rome to win the Lingfield Derby trial last time out. Looks to have a bit too much to do here.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 40-1

3 34-53 BASHKIROV 3 9-0
Aidan O'Brien David McCabe
The outsider of Aidan O'Brien's contingent and has yet to record a win in his career. It is hard to see how that run of form can change in this race against some classy rivals.
Rating: 3/10 Odds: 200-1

4 43-127 BOUGUEREAU 3 9-0
Peter Chapple-Hyam Alan Munro
Last year's Derby-winning trainer seems to have little chance of recording a repeat in the race this year with this relatively ordinary-looking contender.
Rating: 4/10 Odds: 150-1

5 1-1 CASUAL CONQUEST 3 9-0
Dermot Weld Pat Smullen
An impressive winner of the Derrinstown Stud trial in Leopardstown and connections paid £75,000 to add him to the Epsom field. They believe the gamble will be worth it. Can definitely go close.
Rating: 9/10 Odds: 7-2

6 2215-1 CURTAIN CALL 3 9-0
Luca Cumani Jamie Spencer
A lively contender who has been aimed at this race and won his trial at Nottingham in comfortable style. Trainer won in 1988 and 1998 so the omens are in his favour.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 4-1

7 221-21 DOCTOR FREMANTLE 3 9-0
Sir Michael Stoute Kerrin McEvoy
Was added to the field after an impressive win in the Chester Vase last month where he accelerated well. An improving horse but this race may come too soon for him.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 9-1

8 18-2 FROZEN FIRE 3 9-0
Aidan O'Brien Michael Kinane
Finished a close second to Tartan Bearer in the Dante Stakes at York last month and is one of the better of Aidan O'Brien's quintet but others are preferred, despite the jockey booking.
Rating: 6/10 Odds: 20-1

9 211-21 KANDAHAR RUN 3 9-0
Henry Cecil Ted Durcan
Looked a classy horse in the making when he had a comfortable win at Newmarket last time out. Trainer has four Derby wins to his credit but this horse might not be good enough to make it five.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 16-1

10 710-52 KING OF ROME 3 9-0
Aidan O'Brien Johnny Murtagh
Saw his odds slashed when Aidan O'Brien's stable jockey Johnny Murtagh chose it as his Derby mount. Second to stablemate Alessandro Volto in the Lingfield trial.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 14-1

11 0-5303 MAIDSTONE MIXTURE 3 9-0
Paul Murphy Michael O'Connell
Owner Fergus Wilson wanted this horse to run here, one wonders why. Warmed up for this race with a win over hurdles in Strasbourg. Has no chance.
Rating: 2/10 Odds: 500-1

12 111-22 NEW APPROACH 3 9-0
Jim Bolger Kevin Manning
Second to Henrythenavigator in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was in this race, out of it and then in again. Was the ante-post favourite before the Guineas and probably won't be too far away. Rating: 7/10 Odds: 9-2

13 1214-2 RIO DE LA PLATA 3 9-0
Saeed Bin Suroor Frankie Dettori
A good two-year-old and was second in the French Guineas on his seasonal return. The jockey will ensure plenty of interest as he chases a second win in the race.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 20-1

14 RIVER PROUD Non-runner

15 10-1 TAJAAWEED 3 9-0
Sir Michael Stoute Richard Hills
The winner of the Dee Stakes over 1m 2f at Chester in May and by all accounts looks like he would be happy with a longer trip. Has had a late injury scare with a minor foot problem.
Rating: 7/10 Odds: 9-1

16 2-11 TARTAN BEARER 3 9-0
Sir Michael Stoute Ryan Moore
A surprise winner of the Dante Stakes where he easily beat the well-fancied Twice Over. Three of the last four Dante winners have won the Derby and he is probably not going to be far away.
Rating: 8/10 Odds: 7-1

17 4-22 WASHINGTON IRVING 3 9-0
Aidan O'Brien Colm O'Donoghue
Still to record a win in his three career starts, including a distant second to Casual Conquest last time out. Hard to see him making an impact here.
Rating: 5/10 Odds: 40-1