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The showpiece race of the flat season takes place at Epsom this weekend and John Oxx's 2000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars has been nudged into favouritism. Fame and Glory and Rip Van Winkle look the best of Ballydoyle with Jim Bolger's Gan Amhras next best.
Will this year's Derby be all about Aidan O'Brien?
Sea The Stars was the favorite at +300 odds (pays US$300 for every US$100 bet at Sportingbet.com). The next big favorite is Fame and Glory, paying US$400. Rip Van Winkle pays US$500. Gam Amhras pays US$600. Black Bear Island pays US$800. All other horses pay double digit odds.
Johnny Murtagh has taken the ride on 4/1 shot Rip Van Winkle.
The three-time Derby-winning pilot had the choice of six runners for Aidan O'Brien in the premier Classic, including the unbeaten Fame And Glory, and went for the 2000 Guineas fourth.
"I was pleased with his run in the Guineas. He's going well at home, he's a horse I've always liked and is very high-class," Murtagh told At The Races.
"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.
"I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. He has to go and do it, but there is no better stage than Epsom. I think he has everything a Derby horse needs.
"I'm going to ride him like he's the best horse. I believe he's the best horse, I believe he'll stay, and I'm going to ride him like that.
"Fame And Glory won the Ballysax and the Derrinstown and has taken the nice trial route that Aidan likes to take with his Derby horses, so he's a very smart horse.
"Black Bear Island is a horse I like as well and he did it very well in the Dante as he galloped out well past me (on Freemantle) at the line.
"Age Of Aquarius has improved a lot, Golden Sword is a very strong, powerful stayer and Masterofthehorse has really impressed me in his work lately and has come on a lot. If Ballydoyle can win the race I'll be delighted, and if I'm on the right one, it's a bonus."
2009 Epsom Derby Betting Odds can be found at Sportingbet.com.
