Talking Horses: Saxon Warrior can justify favouritism in the Derby


Aidan O’Brien’s runner is the standout talent in the Epsom Classic and his stablemate Zabriskie is a tempting each-way bet

After all the dithering this week about ground, distance and stalls position, it is time for punters to make up their minds about the longstanding Derby favourite, Saxon Warrior (4.30). Most of us have probably gone back and forth over the same questions more often than is really healthy in the last few days but in the last analysis and without wishing to be reductive about it, he is the standout talent and perfectly capable of rising to the challenge facing him.

His draw in stall one is not some distraction to be waved away; repeated experience over the last decade suggests it is the wrong place to start if you want to win over this course and distance. But few of those who have tried can have been in a field one-third of which is made up of their stablemates.

Related: The Derby: horse-by-horse guide to the 239th Epsom Classic

Doncaster 1.20 High Wells 1.55 New Winds 2.30 Artistic Rifles 3.05 White Chocolate 3.40 Urbino (nap) 4.15 Mootasadir 4.50 Madam Devious 5.25 Maghaweer 

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