My massive 25-1 Derby NAP is fancied to come home strong and spring a shock at Epsom

AHMAD al Shaikh might not be Martin Luther King and his dream is unlikely to change the world, but rest assured if the owner claims 245th Betfred Derby glory at Epsom today the feel good factor will be felt on a global scale.

It’s a Classic Derby that seems all too familiar.

PADeira Mile is quietly been talked about as a live Derby chance and Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman fancies his chances at Epsom[/caption]

An Aidan O’Brien-handled likely favourite in City of Troy who flopped in the 2000 Guineas.

My Saturday NAP

Deira Mile (4.30 Epsom)

Owner wants to win this race above all others and application of first-time cheekpieces fascinating for a horse Jim Crowley was raving about after recent Epsom gallop – might just spring a shock!

Which, of course, brings us straight back to this time last year when Auguste Rodin romped to victory over a mile and a half having fallen out the TV screen when 12th of 14 at Newmarket.

City of Troy was ninth of 11 at HQ as a 4-6 shot. But can lightning strike twice?

Well, officially, yes it can, as the Empire State Building gets hit in the same spot about twenty five times a year, but we know it’s hardly a regular occurrence.

As was the case in 2023, O’Brien challenges every form student trying to find the Group 1 Derby winner as no one truly knows what to expect from City of Troy.

But viewers will be fascinated when all is revealed as the big race gets under way at 4.30pm live on the main ITV network.

Let’s quickly deal with City of Troy.

The outstanding champion juvenile was a facile winner of Europe’s most highly esteemed juvenile event in the Group 1 Dewhurst, and over the winter the talk has been about a Triple Crown bid or perhaps a go on dirt in America before a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Of course the Triple Crown is a no go after his 2000 Guineas flop, and who knows what he will do next?

Many have suggested the son of Justify has not grown but O’Brien insists that is nonsense.

City of Troy may well win the Derby, but the odds just don’t tempt me.

Away from the expected favourite it’s very easy to make a case for at least eight or nine of the horses in a field of sixteen due to go to post.

They include City of Troy’s stable companion and Leopardstown Derby Trial scorer Los Angeles and the impressive Lingfield winner Ambiente Friendly.

Not to mention French 2000 Guineas runner-up Dancing Gemini, Sandown second Macduff and Bellum Justum, already a winner at Epsom and the mount of bang in-form Oisin Murphy.

Purists might wish for a hot favourite, perhaps a horse like Mill Reef, Sea the Stars or Camelot who landed the 2000 Guineas and then went on to Derby success.

Or hope to see a Nijinsky, Shergar or Nashwan.

And don’t forget a fabulous horse can be narrowly defeated, none more so than El Gran Senor and Dancing Brave.

But the make up for this Derby is a little bit like what punters expect and love from the Grand National, and for that reason it’s a race normal backers can really get stuck into and enjoy.

I’m chancing Deira Mile for trainer Owen Burrows and former jump jockey Jim Crowley.

As a son of Camelot he’s bred to land the prize, and while he runs under the name Green Team Racing he is essentially the property of Ahmad al Shaikh.

The desire to land the Derby keeps Al Shaikh awake at night.

And he’s gone close with roughies, thanks to Khalifa Sat finishing second at 50-1 in 2020 and Hoo Ya Mal coming runner-up at odds of 150-1 two years later.

Having been outpaced over 2f out, Deira Mile rallied into fourth behind re-opposing and big hope Ancient Wisdom and God’s Window (fourth) in the Group 1 Kameko Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last season and stepped up to 1m2f at Windsor he hacked up first time this term to lose the maiden tag.

This, of course, is a huge step up in grade and Deira Mile has his quirks – that said first time cheekpieces are interesting and if he’s dropped in and ridden for a place he might just come home strong.

“I will sleep deeply for five days if I win the Derby,” said Dubai-based al Shaikh, who also relies on Sayedaty Sadaty, which translates as ‘ladies and gentleman’.

“At the moment I struggle to sleep for anything more than four hours, and that includes two hours of thinking!

“Dubai is basically split into two parts, with Bur Dhubai the more modern part right now. The second is more residential – although used to be the capital before the union of the UAE – and that is where I am from. It is deira, hence my horse is called Deira Mile.”

Today, let’s hope Deira Mile gets a mile and a half!

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