Derby Preview

The favourite for this year's Derby is the Martin Bell trained Motivator, who was an impressive winner of The Dante, always a good marker. With Johnny Murtagh back on board, everything is primed for a big run. A.P.O'Brien has four horses in the field, with his leading hopes being Gypsy King and Oratorio. Kieren Fallon has decided to stick with Gypsy King as his mount, as he goes for the hat trick of Derby wins. But they both have the credentials to win. Gypsy King won the Dee Stakes and Oratorio was running on well when second to Dubawi in the Irish 2000 Guineas. A Derby line up would not be complete without the blue colours of Godolphin, and this year Dubawi is their hope. He beat Oratorio over a mile, but the extra half mile will be a test. But up on board will be Frankie Dettori and if he can weave his magic the horse has every chance. He's certainly highly regarded.Every Londoner at the course?..and there'll be many?..will have an affinity with The Geezer, and I suspect that the price of this horse will drop as the race approaches. Trained by the canny David ElsworthIf Kong crosses the line first the headline writers will have a field day. Can Kong be king? Well he's trained by John Dunlop and has plenty of stamina in his pedigree. Richard Hughes takes the ride. Fracas represents the Irish stable of David Wachman and is ridden by Jamie Spencer. He has a point to prove after being replaced by Kieren Fallon. The horse won all of his three starts including the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Walk in the Park is the only French contender and will be running in the colours of Michael Tabor. The horse came second to Kong in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and he has only won one of his six starts. The pedigree is there but whether the horse has that winning habit is another thing. Grand Central 'could be anything' according to his trainer Aiden O'Brien, and will certainly come on for his recent prep races where he run fairly green. Clive Brittain saddles Hattan another horse which has shown signs of greenness but will progress as he gains more experience. He'll need to show signs of progression as well if he is to figure in the shake up though.Unfurled won the Predominate Stakes which is not such a marker these days, but it is trained by John Dunlop who knows how to win this race and will have him in good shape. He's an outsider and is unlikely to figure. Almighty is the fourth Aidan O'Brien runner and the least fancied. It will be an almighty upset as well if he bags the race. The two 'rags' First Row and Kings Quay seem to be making up the numbers but you never know?.stranger things have happened. Go to Stan James now!