IT’S the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs racecourse on Saturday night and there is more than just £4 million on the line.
The field of 20 three-year-old colts will bid to secure their place in history as the winner of one of the world’s great races – and secure themselves and their owners a lucrative career at stud.
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The race is due off at 11.57pm UK time and you’ll be able to watch all the action at Churchill Downs on Sky Sports Racing.
Last year, Mystik Dan caused a 19-1 upset when clinging on by a nose from Sierra Leone in a thriller under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
This year the vibes around the long-time favourite Journalism, who won the Santa Anita Derby last time out, are especially strong.
His trainer Mike McCarthy, said: “Anybody who’s in the horse business, this is kind of where they want to be.
“He is a top-class horse, he won the Santa Anita Derby last time. We need to avoid trouble but he is favourite for a reason.”
Godolphin have a big fancy in the ‘Run to the Roses’ in the shape of Sovereignty, who was second in the Florida Derby last time out.
The Mark Casse-trained Sandman was a good winner of the Arkansas Derby last month, a race in which last year’s Kentucky Derby hero Mystik Dan was third in his final prep race.
There is some doubt about the state of the ground with an unsettled weather forecast, but it looks likely the race will be run on slow dirt.
Top tipster Templegate has been digging through the American formbook, so check out his tip for the big race below.
Templegate’s verdict
BURNHAM SQUARE looks a good value bet at around the 12-1 mark in the Kentucky Derby.
He really came into his own when winning the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland last month. Despite some trouble in running, he managed to peg back leader East Avenue in the shadow of the post. The time of the race was good and a bit more luck around the home turn here would only boost his chances.
That last race was over 1m1f and the slightly longer trip at Churchill Downs should be right up his street.
Favourite Journalism will be no pushover after his Grade 1 success in the Santa Anita Derby. He and the second pulled right away from a useful field and he has more to come.
Sandman got the job done well in the Arkansas Derby last time but that didn’t look the hottest of races and he’ll have to pull out more at this level.
Luxor Café looks the pick of the Japanese raiders although he’s not the very best they could have sent over. His top form has come on dirt and the magic man Joao Moreira is a good jockey booking. He has an each-way shout at double-figure odds.
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