Henry Cecil can spoil Aidan O’Brien’s party by winning tomorrow’s Investec Derby at Epsom with Bullet Train.

While O’Brien will be doubly represented by Jan Vermeer, the favourite, and Midas Touch, Bullet Train is fancied to prove at least their equal by landing Britain’s most famous flat race for Britain’s most popular trainer.

Beaten only once in three starts, Bullet Train proved his stamina for the Derby trip by winning the Lingfield Derby Trial in workmanlike style last month, making all the running and scoring in decisive fashion.

That piece of form may fall some way short of that achieved by Jan Vermeer, a Group 1 winner in France as a juvenile, but Bullet Train is a fast-improving colt and it is anyone’s guess whether he has made the necessary improvement in the meantime to provide Cecil with his fifth Derby triumph. Tom Queally has the mount.

Jan Vermeer, successful on his reappearance in the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh, is a worthy favourite, following the shock absence of stable-mate St Nicholas Abbey, who had headed the market right through the winter. He has a slight muscle problem and is missing Epsom.

Johnny Murtagh now rides Jan Vermeer, instead of Midas Touch, winner of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. The pair will be aiming to give O’Brien his first Derby winner for eight years, and he has since had 32 losers in the race.

No horse who has been beaten in the Dante has gone on to win the Derby. Workforce will be aiming to become the first, following his runner-up effort at York last month behind Cape Blanco, who misses Epsom and runs in Sunday’s French Derby instead.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Workforce hung badly on Knavesmire and pulled the bit through his mouth. He will need to be much more professional tomorrow, but he is in the hands of a master trainer, and will be ridden by champion jockey Ryan Moore, so it would be no surprise to see him run a mighty race.

Rewilding, who looked good when winning at Goodwood last month, is the mount of Frankie Dettori, while Chester winner Azmeel will have the services of William Buick, bidding for Derby success in his first year as stable-jockey to John Gosden.

A field of 12 horses will face the starter and a fascinating race is in prospect.


Tom’s top four

1 Bullet Train

2 Jan Vermeer

3 Workforce

4 Midas Touch