Aidan O'Brien is expected to secure his 12th victory in the £2 million Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday, fielding four strong contenders. The Ballydoyle trainer recently achieved a one-two-three in the French Derby with Constitution River, and a similar outcome could unfold in Britain's richest race.
The long-time favourite Benvenuto Cellini (2-1), ridden by Ryan Moore, confirmed his status with a convincing win in the Chester Vase. He is joined by stablemates Pierre Bonnard (11-2), Action (16-1), and Christmas Day (18-1). The main threat comes from Item (7-2), the unbeaten Dante Stakes winner trained by Andrew Balding for Juddmonte.
Other notable runners include James J Braddock (9-1), who defeated Pierre Bonnard last time, and Maltese Cross (9-1), winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial. Bay Of Brilliance (10-1) and Ancient Egypt (16-1) also feature in the 14-runner field.
While Benvenuto Cellini is the clear favourite, some analysts suggest better value lies with the other O'Brien colts, particularly Action, who may improve over 1m4f with first-time cheekpieces. The Derby will be broadcast live on ITV at 4pm on Saturday.
