Fame And Glory can emerge best of the Ballydoyle sextet at Epsom and give the brilliant Aidan O’Brien a third victory in the Investec Derby.
The unbeaten Montjeu colt ticks all the boxes and has followed an identical path this season to Coolmore’s recent Derby winners Galileo and High Chaparral.
That pair are two of the best middle-distance performers of recent years and warmed up for Epsom by winning the Ballysax Stakes and Derrinstown Derby Trial, just as Fame And Glory has done.
However, Fame And Glory has even achieved more than his illustrious counterparts as he won a Group One as a juvenile. He is very professional on the track, despite showing a glimpse of his father by swishing his tail under pressure.
Although Johnny Mur-tagh has picked Rip Van Winkle, he has lost as many races as he has won, falling short twice at the highest level, and Coolmore jockeys have got it wrong before.
Black Bear Island could emerge next best in O’Brien’s squad after he showed a smart turn of foot to come from last to win the Dante.
Sea The Stars brings the best form into the race having won the Guineas in the style of a serious performer, but his stamina must be taken on trust and it is Jim Bolger’s Gan Amhras who can take minor honours af-ter his third at Newmarket.
The fact Michael Jarvis has decided to keep Red Dune in training as a four-year-old looks significant and she can land the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
She may have a bit to find on the official figures with a few of her rivals, but she made a really big impression when winning a decent handicap at Newmarket last summer.
Upped in class after that, she was not disgraced but it may be that she is at her best when fresh so this could be the time to catch her.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Marching Time appears to have been primed for the Investec Sir Clement Freud Memorial Stakes.
Stoute often targets this race with a well handicapped beast and he won it with none other than subsequent St Leger and Breeders’ Cup hero Conduit last year. Connections thought Marching Time good enough to run in the Racing Post Trophy last year but blew his chance by running too freely.
He reappeared in a tight handicap at York last month and did not enjoy the best of luck in sixth but finished full of running.
It will be a major surprise if this son of Sadler’s Wells can not win of a mark off 83.
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