Vodafone Derby at Epsom Betting Preview (June 3rd)

Presently, the ante-post market for the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on June 3 makes for a rather muddled composition. Current ante-post favourite Visindar looks set to cross the channel for Flat racing's Blue Riband next month. But it is no secret that his trainer, Andre Fabre, isn't overly fond of the idiosyncratic nature of the track at Epsom Downs, and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if he were to play safe with the exciting colt by pitching him in the French Derby at Chantilly instead. However, the totesport Dante Stakes takes place at York on Thursday - a race four winners since 1994 have used as a stepping stone en route to winning the Derby - and I reckon that a star will emerge in the shape of Hala Bek, who is well worth a decent wager at 2/1 with Ladbrokes for this mile and a quarter contest on the Knavesmire. Looking at the three-year-old maidens run over trips of upwards of a mile so far this season, no performance has impressed me more than when Hala Bek scored on his debut in the eleven-furlong Peter Smith Memorial Maiden Stakes at Newbury last month. Well touted ahead of the race and sent off a warm favourite, the son of Halling was always travelling well in the leaders' slipstream before Philip Robinson sent him into the lead just over a furlong out, asking his mount to stretch and Hala Bek duly obliged in some style, really lengthening in eyecatching fashion, winning with far more in hand than the actual length and a quarter winning margin suggests. The acceleration Michael Jarvis' demonstrated is a hallmark of a very smart colt indeed, and the form has been franked subsequently, as the runner-up Dragon Dancer was a close second to Papal Bull in the Group 3 Chester Vase on the Roodee last week. Furthermore, Snoqualmie Boy, who was over seven lengths adrift of Hala Bek when third at Newbury, clocked a good time when scoring at Salisbury next time out. In terms of bare form, this is a reasonable jump up for Hala Bek, going from a maiden to Group 2 company, but I personally think he's well and truly up to scratch - in fact, I think he's got the ability to go right to the top of the tree - and I expect the 2/1 on offer at the time of writing to look decidedly magnanimous shortly after 2.45 at York on Thursday. Second favourite with the 'Magic Sign' is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Septimus, who is best forgiven his comeback run at Longchamp last month, as he just didn't fire, finishing seventh behind Barastraight in a Group 3 event over ten furlongs. The Sadler's Wells colt looked a smart prospect when winning his first two races last season before finishing three lengths third to Palace Episode in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster where he didn't look completely at ease on the heavy going. Given the strength in depth at Ballydoyle, Septimus merits much respect, although one can only go on the evidence available and the form of his win in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes last October has taken plenty of knocks since and he just doesn't look anywhere near as good as Hala Bek in my opinion. Palace Episode, who is now in the care of Godolphin having won the Racing Post Trophy under the guidance of Kevin Ryan, looks a smart colt who appears to act on any ground, and he should certainly pay his way this term. However, he essentially won a weak renewal of the RP Trophy on ground that was bordering on a quagmire. And, moreover, he had his limitations well and truly exposed when a one-paced third in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket last September, a race which hasn't worked out at all well in terms of form. It would be no surprise to see Best Alibi, who was fourth behind Palace Episode at Doncaster, reverse the placings on the likely better ground at York, while all-weather maiden scorer Leningrad is highly regarded and should give a good account, along with Red Rocks, who looked a horse on the up when cruising home at Windsor on his seasonal reappearance. Recommended Bet: 3pts Hala Bek @ 2/1 (Ladbrokes)