We've got an action-packed preview from our Coral Racing Ambassadors today as David Probert and Hugo Palmer preview each of their rides and runners on Epsom Derby Day – plus Hugo shares his thoughts on The Derby as he assesses the top contenders.

David Probert

14:45 Epsom – Fair Wind

He has had one run this year at Chester, and although he was well beaten that day, he has come on for the outing. He was a highly progressive horse last season, and I think he can keep improving. The slower the ground, the better for him. I am happy enough with stall 13, and I am sure he has the speed to be competitive in the Dash.

15:30 Epsom – Al Wasl Storm

I am delighted to have another ride in the Derby. This is the most special Flat race in the world, so to be part of the line-up, is always something to savour. We are under no illusions about what we are up against here. Al Wasl Storm is a big outsider, but the owner [Ahmad Al Shaikh] is passionate about the sport and this race. I was fortunate to finish second in the Derby for him in 2022 on board Hoo Ya Mal at odds of 150/1, so outsiders can have their say in this race.

Al Wasl Storm won his maiden at Chester, which is always a good course to have a trial for the Derby. I gave him a spin around Epsom during ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ last week, and he was enthusiastic and took a nice hold around the track. The forecast suggests we are set for plenty of rain on Derby Day, and he is a horse who will not mind that. He is one of only four horses in the race to have won over 1m4f, so there are no doubts about his stamina. We have been drawn in stall 13, and I just hope he doesn’t get taken off his feet too early. I don’t think he is the finished article yet, but that itself is exciting, as it means there is much more to come from him.

It is an open-looking race. Delacroix has arguably the best form with his trial victories. Ruling Court is the Guineas winner, but there are some doubts about his stamina. I also was impressed with Pride Of Arras in the Dante. As the betting suggests, you could make a case for quite a few of them in the field.

16:15 Epsom – Night Breeze

I won on this horse at Ascot last time. He was able to relax easily into the race, and I was surprised at how well he was travelling when turning for home. He extended at the 2f pole and put the race to bed. If he handles the track, he should be thereabouts. He has gone up 7lb, but I still think he is ahead of his mark based on his last run.

17:40 Epsom – Purest Time

This horse ran over 7f last time at Chester, but he couldn’t get a run. He has shown plenty of speed in the past, so a drop down 6f will not be a problem. This is just his second start for Ian Williams, but looking back at his form in France, he has some good form on soft ground. Hopefully, he can outrun his odds.

Hugo Palmer

13:00 Epsom – Kindest Nation

Kindest Nation is out of her depth in this race, and I know that seems a silly thing to say, but it's true. However, our aim is to try to get some black type for this filly, which will enhance her value as a broodmare. She's in really good form at home, her work has been pleasing me, and she will enjoy some ease in the ground, so if she could nick third place that would be a great result.

18:07 Lingfield – Cheshire Belle

Cheshire Belle is a half-sister to our Box To Box, he’s a thorough stayer and he’s by a sprinting sire in Kodiac, so this filly should be an even more stout stayer given her sire was. She ran OK on her debut at Haydock, but she does need to strengthen up further, and as I say, I'm sure she will appreciate longer trips in the future. She will learn a bit more here, and is one for the future when stepped up in trip.

Hugo's Epsom Derby Preview

It’s a fascinating Derby, largely because we simply don’t know if many of the leading contenders will truly stay the Derby trip. Only four of the 19 runners have won over the distance, and three of them are big outsiders. Lambourn proved he stays when winning the Chester Vase, in the process he played a compliment to his stablemate, and current favourite, Delacroix, who he’d finished second to on his previous run.

Delacroix then won the Leopardstown Derby Trial, and clearly has a big chance, but while he shapes as if he will stay a mile and a half, he does have to prove it, and his sire, Dubawi, has yet to sire a Derby winner. Ryan Moore rides Delacroix, which can obviously be seen as a positive, although plenty of Aidan O’Brien’s ten Derby winners weren’t ridden by the then stable jockey, so neither Lambourn nor The Lion In Winter can be written off, although the latter feels like an unlikely winner after his Dante run.

The horse I think will win, is simply overpriced, and indeed should be clear favourite, is RULING COURT. He’s drawn well in stall seven, and his 2000 Guineas victory was given a huge boost when the runner-up, Field Of Gold, ran away with the Irish 2000 Guineas. On breeding the Godolphin colt should stay the distance well, being by Justify, who sired last year’s Derby winner City Of Troy, out of a mare by a Derby winner in High Chapparal. In Charlie Appleby and William Buick, he is trained by a champion and ridden by a champion jockey, and I feel the market is just wrong in having Delacroix as favourite.

David Probert & Hugo Palmer, Coral Racing Ambassadors