IT IS probably the biggest racing weekend in the history of the sport with the Derby, Oaks and the Eclipse all being run within 24 hours of each other.

Add in the Lancashire Oaks, Old Newton Cup alongside the French Derby and Oaks and reputations can be made and blunted in equal measure.

The Investec Derby at Epsom looks a fascinating renewal this year with the mighty Aidan O’Brien having declared no fewer than six runners and stable jockey Ryan Moore opting for the ride on Mogul despite a hugely disappointing fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Word from Ballydoyle is that he has worked brilliantly since then and come on a bundle for the run and that connections expect him to reverse that form with the winner Pyledriver and the strong staying MOHICAN HEIGHTS.

The last named is wholly interesting as he is very lightly raced and came home like a steam train at the Berkshire track.

However, although I can see him racing through beaten rivals down the home stretch, he may not quite have the speed to land the gold medal.

Still, at 25/1 I have backed him each-way and have also heavily invested in him for the St Leger, a contest which should play to his strengths – and indeed looking further ahead to the Ascot Gold Cup of 2021.

Kameko was an impressive winner of the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and on that pure form should probably be favourite here.

However, there is a major question mark over his stamina, so alongside Mohican Heights I have also had a small each-way play on another of the O’Brien team, namely SERPENTINE.

The son of Gallileo only landed a maiden last time out, but the manner of his strong galloping style was very sweet on the eye and the time impressive.

I am just hoping that O’Brien doesn’t instruct Emmet McNamara to go off like a scalded cat in order to make this a well-run race which in turn may compromise the chance of Kameko seeing out this demanding mile-and-a-half trip.

Favourite English King is a big, scopey individual with any amount of improvement in him and although his Lingfield Derby Trial win doesn’t look top class, he won with any amount in hand, travelling well and quickening up.

Unlike a number of his rivals the son of Camelot will be galloping on strongly at the end of this famous race and the cream on the cake is that he has the services of Frankie Dettori.

I think the 5.35 is a race well worth waiting for as I believe that HATEYA (nap) has solid claims having finished second in the 2019 renewal and with a really good Epsom profile as well. A mark of 95 seems very fair in the circumstances and a fast-run seven furlongs around here is just perfect for the five-year-old.

The Investec Oaks at 3.40 looks a match to most people with 1,000 Guineas heroine Love up against Ribblesdale winner Frankly Darling.

However, the bookmakers have taken the juice out of both fillies price-wise, and if all eight of the entries go to post I will be having a large each-way play on the Aidan O’Brien trained PASSION (nb).

She has plenty to find on the bare book with her rivals, and rather like Serpentine in the Derby, I am hoping she is not used as a hare and can run on her own merits.

If she does, then this beautifully bred filly is the each-way play here and I would expect her to get a lot closer to both Frankly Darling and stablemate Ennystiman who basically out-speeded her at the quarter-mile pole before she stayed on nicely under minimum pressure in the final furlong to be beaten four-and-a-quarter lengths by the winner.

After an initial good and even gallop, the pace slowed noticeably that day from the five-furlong to the two-furlong pole after which the winner quickened clear.

What Passion needs is a real end-to-end stayers event and I hope she isn’t sacrificed up front for the benefit of her stable-mates as I think she could well be the dark horse in the field at around 25/1.

On Sunday, the Coral Eclipse sees the reappearance of the mighty Enable at Sandown Park (3.35) but I think now is the time to oppose her. As she has got older I know that John Gosden has found it even more difficult to get her fit as she gets heavier and that opens the door to her rivals.

Ghaiyyath was an impressive winner at Newmarket putting up some exceptional sectionals, but that was only 30 seconds ago and I just wonder if he needs a bit more time between his races.

Cambridgeshire winner Lord North seems to be thriving on his racing and showed plenty of class to land the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but again I think the value lies with the big outsider here, DEIDRE, who has been working the house down at Newmarket and on her day has a sparkling turn of foot to go to war with in the highest grade.

Of course she will probably need a career-best to win this, but she will have the race run to suit and I think is at least 15 points too big.

Others to note this weekend include on Saturday include PHILAMUNDO (Chelmsford 7.10), DELPH CRESCENT (12.00 Haydock) and on Sunday INDIANAPOLIS in the Old Newton Cup, the 3.15 at Haydock.

Saturday Naps

HATEYA Epsom 17.35

PASSION Epsom 15.30

Sunday Nap
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Haydock 3.15 (nap)

zim baby – 4.20 haydock