THE build-up to this year’s Derby at Epsom has been anything but uneventful, as contenders have come and gone on a regular basis, and there is now the very real prospect of the most open contest for many years. At the time of writing, no less than 20 horses are quoted at under 20/1 in one place or another.

The latest major contender to throw his hat into the ring was The Gurkha, who won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, run at Deauville this year, in tremendous style on just his third racecourse start.