2012 Kentucky Derby Lineup Nearly Complete

 The final weekend of significant Grade 1 Kentucky Derby preps has just been completed and the 20-strong field should be narrowed down to the definitive contenders. There's a lot to like about this race and it looks as though it is a direct sequel to the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with virtually all of the significant finishers going on to win at three and reaffirm their Derby credentials. Knowing that several of them all have proven form over the Churchill Downs surface will be key but there are still a number of wild cards that have come into contention over the past few weeks and months.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE BET ON THE DERBY WITH LADBROKES!

Not the least of these wild cards is Bob Baffet's freakish colt Bodemeister, owned by Zayat Stables and named after Baffert's young son, Bodemeister has only been on track three times – the most recent of which was a sensational win by nearly ten lengths in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. He was beaten at Grade 2 level by fellow So-Cal resident Creative Cause in only his second start but he looks to have improved significantly over the space between those races and he looks to be peaking at just the right time.

Many keen observers of American thoroughbred racing are confident that Bodemeister will now go off as the betting choice on Derby day.

Gemologist is another who is expected to compete for the favourites spot on the first Saturday in May. Expect him to kick on well following his score in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Now unbeaten in five races and owned by Team Valor, many expect him to take lots of money from the novice punters who spot the 1-1-1-1-1 in his firm card. It remains clear that we haven't seen the bottom of this horse.

Union Rags had been the leading contender for the 2012 Derby for quite some time despite finishing second to Hansen in the juvenile. Union Rags 2012 season was marred by a third place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, which he had been pointing at for quite some time. There are theories out there that Union Rags has peaked a bit too early but the fact remains that he didn't have to win the Florida Derby as he was already into the Big Dance based on graded earnings.

Hansen was well-beaten by Dullahan on Saturday in the Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. Front-running Hansen won the juvenile with a stylish pace-setting performance but was unable to find enough more to hold off the late-charging Dullahan. Some are now advocating that Hansen's connections skip the Kentucky Derby and opt for the slightly shorter distance of the Preakness – a race that tends to favour front-running speed.

Hansen's price has now drifted out to around 12/1 for the Kentucky Derby and will likely go higher. Dullahan has seen his ante post value drop from 25/1 to as lo as 6/1 following his sensational score at Keeneland. He ran fourth in the juvenile but his performance was sneakily good as he broke badly and was last going into the first turn – he made up more than enough ground to finish fourth, passing all but three horses and gobbling up space with each stride as he hit the wire. Look for him to go off in the 8/1 range on Derby day.