Epsom Derby, 1m 4f (Friday and Saturday)

Motivator has been favourite since winning the Dante Stakes at York, and there's no doubt he's got the speed and stamina required to win it.However, 9/4 is a very short price now, and there may be concerns about him acting on fast ground around Epsom. Of his rivals, there has been a big plunge this week on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gypsy King, in anticipation of jockey Kieran Fallon being confirmed for the ride. The Fallon factor could well see him challenging Motivator for favoritism on the day but there's no getting way from the fact that Fallon found it hard to choose between the unbeaten Gypsy King and his stablemate, Oratorio. The latter must have a great chance of reversing Irish Guineas form with Dubawi, who must be rated a doubtful stayer over the trip, and could well do best of the Ballydoyle runners. However, there are strong reasons for backing another Irish-trained runner, the David Wachman-trained Fracas. Winner of all three of his career starts (including Classic trials at Sandown and Leopardstown), he will be well suited to the end to end gallop, and should have no trouble seeing out the trip, unlike some of his rivals.Derby Pick: Fracas @ 12/1 at Bet365Epsom Oaks, 1m 4fFr Jun 3In Friday's Oaks, the favourite Eswarah will take all the beating, but she's a short price for what she's actually achieved on the track, plus connections would have preferred to see a drop more rain around this week.So, lets plump for Lupe Stakes winner Something Exciting instead. She simply hacked up at Goodwood, and the feeling is that if she was trained by one of the bigger yards (her trainer David Elsworth has yet to train a Classic winner) then she'd be a lot shorter price. Oaks Pick: Something Exciting @ 13/2 at Bet365