WHEN the first five home in the Derby finish within three-quarters of a length of each other, you can easily argue that there is not much between the five of them. Especially when you can argue cases with varying degrees of veracity for each of the four horses who filled places two to five.

That said, it is usually the case that the best horse in the race on the day wins the race. It is usual that that Derby winner, injury notwithstanding, confirms himself as the best middle-distance colt of his generation as the season progresses.