INVESTEC DERBY

Venue: Epsom Date: 6 June Time: 1545 BST

Raceday coverage: Live on BBC One and BBC Sport website from 1315 to 1620, and on BBC Radio 5 Live; Highlights 0035 BBC One.
Preview programme (Friday): 1930-2000, BBC Two and BBC Sport website.

Kinane rode Sea the Stars to Guineas glory - can he do the same at Epsom?

Sea The Stars is aiming to become the first Guineas-Derby winner since Nashwan 20 years ago when he goes in the premier Classic on Saturday.

The John Oxx-trained colt has been well backed for the race, run over a mile-and-a-half of Epsom Downs racecourse.

"Whether he can win the Derby as well as the Guineas is a tough call, but it's worth pursuing," said Oxx.

The field was reduced to 12 with the withdrawal of South Easter, leaving just four entries trained in England.

Dee Stakes winner South Easter was found by trainer William Haggas to be coughing, and was pulled out on the eve of the race.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has six runners, with Derrinstown Derby Trial winner Fame and Glory and Rip Van Winkle, fourth in the Guineas, set to push Sea The Stars, with Mick Kinane on board, all the way.

They are joined from Ballydoyle by Age Of Aquarius, Black Bear Island, Golden Sword and Masterofthehorse.

Sea the Stars' trainer John Oxx is bidding for his second Derby winner

Jim Bolger's Gan Amhras, Brian Meehan's Crowded House, Godolphin's Kite Wood, Epsom winner Debussy and Montaff complete the line-up.

Oxx has been cautious about whether Sea The Stars can stay the extra half-mile he will be faced with at Epsom. He still remains far from certain, while also talking up the colt's other credentials.

"He was such an important horse from the day he was foaled," he said.

"There was great expectation right from the beginning with his pedigree and when a horse like that walks through the gates your hopes are high.

"Everyone assumed he was a Derby horse because he is a half-brother to [2001 Derby winner] Galileo but it was obvious to me early on there might be a doubt about his stamina - he is by Cape Cross rather than Sadler's Wells and you wouldn't get two more different pedigrees there.

"The beginning of June is quite early in the year for a horse to be mature enough to stay the distance.

"It is a demanding place and that is why Derby winners have been so successful over the last 200 years. You won't win with a slow horse.

"Sea The Stars certainly has the look of a champion and is already a Guineas winner."

The colt's owners, Christopher Tsui and his mother Ling, are part of a wealthy Hong Kong family who owned Sea The Stars' dam Urban Sea.

"They weren't at Newmarket but they watch everything from a distance and they are very excited," reported Oxx.

"People don't see them, but they are absolutely wrapped up in this horse. Mrs Tsui is a very busy woman, she works almost constantly, but she said she couldn't work for a week after the 2000 Guineas."

Seamus Heffernan has yet to be placed in the Derby from three attempts but is sure he can put that right on Fame And Glory.

When I rode him in the Tyros Stakes last year he gave me a great feel and I always thought he was a little bit special. Please God I'm on the right one Johnny Murtagh explains why he chose Rip van Winkle

The jockey was on the colt's back for his Leopardstown win, and keeps the ride as Johnny Murtagh has opted for Rip Van Winkle from Ballydoyle's six runners.

"The preparation seems to have gone well and I'm looking forward to it," said Heffernan.

"He won the Derrinstown impressively on good ground and travelled very well. He's a very easy ride and makes it easy for you to like him. I'm very happy with what I'm riding. He's unbeaten, so that has to be huge plus."

Murtagh explained his thinking in picking Rip van Winkle, a horse he has long admired.

"I was pleased with his run in the Guineas and I thought after that maybe the Derby would be the next race for him," he said.

"Aidan's prepared him for the Derby and his preparation has gone very well. He's going well at home, he's a horse I've always liked and is very high-class.

"There is a little doubt about whether he will get the trip but it's a nice doubt as you need to have that little bit of speed to travel round Epsom. I think he'll handle the track, cruise round and hopefully it will carry him to the last furlong.

"When I rode him in the Tyros Stakes last year he gave me a great feel and I always thought he was a little bit special. Please God I'm on the right one."

606: DEBATE Who will win the Derby?

One of the unfancied English quartet, Kite Wood, was far from disgraced when beaten just two lengths into fifth on his comeback in the Dante Stakes at York, and trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "We thought beforehand that he would need the run.

"He has come out of that race in good order and I think that he has improved since. He worked on the private Snailwell gallop on Tuesday and I was pleased with him.

"The mile and a half of the Derby should play to his strengths, but it looks to be a very tough renewal this year."

Crowded House's joint-owner Paul Reddam is hopeful that his colt can bounce back after a disappointing show in the Dante Stakes.

"He missed a little bit of time after the Dante as he wasn't quite right but he seems to be on his game now so we hope for a good run. I'm not saying he will win but certainly you can't win if you're not in."

The colt, the winter favourite for the Derby, is now a 25-1 outsider for the premier Classic.

Latest Derby betting: 100-30 Sea The Stars, 4-1 Fame And Glory, 9-2 Rip van Winkle; 8-1 Gan Amhras, Black Bear Island; 14-1 Masterofthehorse; 20-1 bar

(Best odds generally available at 1230 BST on 5 June, source oddschecker.com)

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