All eyes will be on Epsom on Saturday afternoon for the Derby – one of the most eagerly anticipated Classics of the Flat racing calendar in the UK.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This year sees 17 runners set to head to post, and we\u2019ve taken a closer look at them all in our 2022 Epsom Derby Preview.<\/p>\n
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Changingoftheguard<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Changingoftheguard represents Aidan O\u2019Brien, the leading trainer in the Epsom Derby, and he arrives here on the back of success in the Chester Vase at the start of May.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He bullied the small field that day though and will struggle to do the same in this large field and has to improve once more.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Desert Crown<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Desert Crown has only raced twice, but he\u2019s been ultra-impressive on both starts, seeing out his races well. Including when blowing the field away in the Dante at York.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looks full of power and potential and looks like a top-class horse in the making – he\u2019s a worthy favourite.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n El Habeeb<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n El Habeeb was a no show in his only race to date when he was 5th of six runners in a Listed contest at Newmarket and looks entirely out of his depth in this race.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Glory Daze<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Glory Daze ran a huge race when 2nd behind Stone Age in the Derrinstown at Leopardstown last month but was still well held – it would be a massive shock if he were to be in the mix here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grand Alliance<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grand Alliance has punched above his weight this year, including when 2nd in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom back in April.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He\u2019s been put away since that race, but it would be a surprise to see him feature in the finish in this race, especially when he\u2019s bred more for speed – he could feature early but expect him to fall away up the straight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoo Ya Mal<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoo Ya Mal has won just once in his five starts and has struggled in three Pattern races, so it\u2019s hard to see him landing a race of this quality.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Masekela<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trained by Archie Watson, Masekela isn\u2019t bred for the Derby trip but has shown glimpses of what he can do when 2nd in the Fielden Stakes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s a big if whether he\u2019ll stay, but he could run a big race at a massive price if he does.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nahanni<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Godolphin-owned Nahanni booked his Derby slot when landing the Blue Riband Trial, but it\u2019s hard to see him living with a field of this quality.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If he is to land a Classic – it could well be the St Leger later in the year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nations Pride<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another owned by Godolphin, connections have payed out \u00a375k to supplement Nations Pride for the Derby, and he looks a false price on what he\u2019s shown so far.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He could grab a place, but he has work to do to match Desert Crown.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Piz Badile<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trained in Ireland by Donnacha O\u2019Brien, Piz Badile has been impressive in his three runs to date, including landing the Ballysax at Leopardstown in April.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Frankie Dettori takes the ride, and if he stays, he looks an excellent each-way bet in this field.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Royal Patronage<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As is usual for a horse trained by the Johnston\u2019s, Royal Patronage has been kept busy and landed the Royal Lodge last year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He was 2nd behind Desert Crown in the Dante, and it\u2019s hard to see how he can overturn that form being so exposed already.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sonny Liston<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sonny Liston has looked green in his last two runs and failed to trouble Star Of India last time out at Chester.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to see him settling well in a field this large, and he looks one to swerve for now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Star Of India<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Star Of India landed the Dee Stakes but still has questions to answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, you only have to look at who the trainer is, who his sire is, and note that the Ballydoyle second – or third – strings have won the Derby in three of the last five years – could it happen again?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stone Age<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stone Age is another for Aidan O\u2019Brien and is the choice of Ryan Moore, although some may say that means little based on recent years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, he\u2019s been imposing in his two races this season and will undoubtedly be in the mix as they head for home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Walk Of Stars<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Walk Of Stars is another representative for Godolphin and ran 2nd in Lingfield\u2019s Derby Trial.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With his strong-galloping style, Epsom should play to his strengths, and he looks overpriced currently – has a definite each-way shout.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Westover<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Westover had to dig deep when landing Sandown\u2019s Classic Trial, but it was a small field that day, and the hustle and bustle of a Derby should suit him better.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can he improve to take the race, though, is another question, and it\u2019s unlikely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n West Wind Blows<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n West Wind Blows is two from two in his career, but connections have had him earmarked for the Derby for many months despite them being novice contests.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The best horse he\u2019s beaten so far is rated just 92, though, so he needs to have plenty up his sleeve to land this race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" All eyes will be on Epsom on Saturday afternoon for the Derby – one of the most eagerly anticipated Classics of the Flat racing calendar in the UK. This year sees 17 runners set to head to post, and we\u2019ve taken a closer look at them all in our 2022 Epsom Derby Preview.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[376],"tags":[757,272,375],"class_list":["post-49951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-racing","tag-epsom","tag-featurehome","tag-horse-racing"],"yoast_head":"\n