A FORMER college journalism lecturer, teaching the art of headline writing, told us how proud he was of one of his better offerings.

“The world revolves around great Galileo once again”, he had written, after the colt had won the battle in the King George in 2001.

This 2019 Derby emphasises the point of how European breeding now revolves around the Coolmore sire. Every runner has a Galileo link, all either sons or grandsons, and the favourite Sir Dragonet is out of a mare from a half-sister to the great sire.

Personally, the Derby never gripped the emotions like a Gold Cup or National,

Lester was always the focus through the seventies and it was more of an event on the Wednesday, bringing much more newspaper coverage.

Back then it was always Vincent O’Brien against the best of the English – Peter Walwyn in the seventies, Henry Cecil in the eighties.

Undoubtedly the dominance of Ballydoyle has seen a bit of interest wane – seven runners can’t offer too many headlines stories, but there are potential narratives outside the favourites this year. The young and the old. Wins for Oisin Murphy or Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes would be worthy ones. And I’m thinking they will go close.