Field of 17 runners for The Epsom Derby

The final runners are known for Saturday's Epsom Derby and the race boasts a 17-strong line-up. Once again Aidan O'Brien, who has won The Derby twice before, fields a strong team with five of the field.

It is hard to split the quintet but stable jockey Johnny Murtagh has plumped for King of Rome. O'Brien's other representatives are: Frozen Fire, Alessandro Volta, Bashkirov and Washington Irving.

Another stable with a strong hand is Sir Michael Stoute. He is represented by Dante Stakes winner Tartan Bearer plus Tajaaweed and Doctor Fremantle. The latter was supplemented at a cost of £75,000.

There are a couple of other expensive supplementaries, namely the current favourite Casual Conquest and also River Proud. The former has won both his starts, is a big horse and while full of ability certainly lacks experience. River Proud is trained by ex-schoolteacher Paul Cole.

The Irish are sending over a total of seven runners, which as well as Casual Conquest include the undisputed class act in the race, New Approach. His trainer Jim Bolger has incurred the wrath of many by running his star after stating he would not and that the horse had only been entered by accident. Punters need to grow up and realise that until a horse is withdrawn from a race officially anything is possible. It is all part of the swings and arrows of the horse racing betting game.

Like Aidan O'Brien, another trainer with a pair of Epsom Derby winners is the shrewd Newmarket-based Italian Luca Cumani. Cumani, who gave Frankie Dettori his big break in racing, last picked up The Epsom Derby in 1998 with High-Rise. That win was ten years after he had landed the blue riband of horse racing with Kahyasi. This time Luca Cumani has given a perfect, typically patient preparation to the Sadler's Wells colt Curtain Call.

Frankie Dettori's mount is the apparent outside Rio De La Plata, who is our fancy for the race. The other runners are: Kandahar Run, Alan Devonshire, Bouguereau and Maidstone Mixture.

Maidstone Mixture is totally outclassed and is only running because of the whim of his idiot owner Fergus Wilson. A renowned fool, Fergus Wilson's hurdler had better not get in anyone's way during the race or there will be a post mortem to end all post mortems and Fatty Fergus will end up being lynched. Come to think of it, maybe that cloud will have a silver lining.

So that is the full 17-runner line-up for the Epsom Derby. If you want a bet then we recommend you claim a free £100 and join the excellent Bet365 Online Bookmaker.

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