Well, the time has come for more spines to shiver and tingle, and for another horse, jockey, trainer and owner to add their names to that history. For the great race, the king of all the Classics, struts its stuff for the 245th time on the rolling Epsom Downs this Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Leighton Buzzard Observer, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Sixteen runners tackle the unique course for the richest race in Britain, sponsored by Betfred and carrying £1.5 million in prize money. Due off at 4.
30 pm, it is being shown live on ITV. Finding the winner of the Derby is never a straightforward task. No-one can predict for sure how the inexperienced 3yo colts will handle the climbs and descents, the steep undulations and the pronounced camber of Epsom, or whether they will stay the 1m4f distance.
But it's been made even more complicated this year by the anomaly that the three most impressive winners of the spring trials are all absent. Citing those very fears about track and trip suitability, connections have made the sad decision to bypass the race with Economics, who landed the Dante Stakes at York by six lengths. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the classy Hidden Law suffered a fatal injury seconds after sluicing up in the Chester Vase, and Arabian Crown met with an injury setback after powering home at Sandown.
The contest now revolves around CITY OF TROY , champion 2yo last seaso.