The Derby is the most famous Flat race in Britain and it takes place at Epsom on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin currently heads the market but his son Donnacha also has a runner which could provide some major competition. Donnacha O’Brien won two British Classics as a jockey, winning the 2000 Guineas twice and he could claim his first as a trainer. The 24-year-old has a 33-1 shot for the big race and this price does him a disservice. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Alder was a useful juvenile last season and he finished fourth behind a subsequent Group 1 winner on debut. He then followed that up by getting off the mark at Killarney and he also ran a good race behind Auguste Rodin in a Group 1 at Doncaster. His useful form suggested that he would make a good middle-distance horse as a three-year-old and that has been the case so far.
Winning at Cork on seasonal debut, the second boosted the form of that win by scoring in a valuable handicap next time out. He stayed on well having been slightly outpaced in a messy renewal of the Dee Stakes last time out and eventually finished second. On the evidence of that effort, the step up to 1m4f will be right up his street and can facilitate further improvement.
San Antonio beat Alder at Chester last time out but the extra distance should help the latter to reverse the form this time. O’Brien’s colt has still only had five career starts and it’s highly likely that the best is yet to come. This strapping Chestnut colt will be looking to follow in the footsteps of his Derby-winning sire. His current price certainly doesn’t look like a fair reflection of his chance and he can prove that here.
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