Madhmoon can bounce back from Guineas defeat to land Derby glory

The Derby is one of the few Flat races that non-followers of horse racing have heard of, and although its popularity has waned recently, there is still a winner to be found.

A victory for Irish trainer Aidan O’brien would draw him level with Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling on seven.

O’brien will today be represented by seven runners, more than half the field.

His best hope could well be Broome, who landed the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stakes, two of Ireland’s key Derby trials, on his past two starts and has shaped as if he will improve for the step up in trip to a mile and a half.

Britain’s best hope is undoubtedly Telecaster. Hughie Morrison’s colt has improved through the ranks and won his trial at York, the Dante Stakes, impressively.

He is bred for the job, as his sire New Approach won the Derby in 2008, while his dam, Shirocco Star, was beaten just a neck in the Oaks four years later.

Connections forked out £85,000 on Monday to supplement him for this race and he will need to finish in the first four to recoup that.

He has a solid chance, but has been handed a tough draw in stall two.

Given those doubts, it might be worth taking a chance on Irish challenger Madhmoon at 12/1. The Kevin Prendergast-trained colt beat Broome in a Group Two at Leopardstown at the end of last year and has run two fine races in defeat this season, including when fourth in the 2,000 Guineas.

Sir Percy (2006), New Approach (2008), Australia (2014) and Masar (2018) were all recent winners of the Derby to be beaten in the Guineas and Madhmoon could be overpriced to join that club.