On Saturday the cream of British thoroughbred horseracing will gather at Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey to participate in flat racing’s biggest single race – the Vodafone Epsom Derby.

The best trainers, thoroughbreds and jockeys in the sport will be competing not only for the prestige of winning the season’s most coveted Classic, but also for a share in the whopping £1,25 million Epsom Derby purse.

Epsom Derby betting markets have been active for months, with Dermot Weld’s Casual Conquest emerging as a strong favourite in the run-up to the race. Casual Conquest is priced 7/2 by William Hill to claim the Epsom Derby on Sunday, based on a 100% win record and the ability to maintain a smart pace over longer races.

Dermot Weld holds the best cards in the Epsom Derby, with another of his runners, Curtain Call, priced second in the Epsom Derby betting markets at odds of 4/1 by William Hill. With a victory over 1 mile 2 furlongs to his name, Curtain Call’s price is a reflection of his ability in longer races rather than an impeccable record.

Jim Bolger’s New Approach holds third place in the Epsom Derby betting markets, with William Hill pricing the 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up at 9/4 to finally take the honours in a Classic. New Approach was a late entry into betting markets after Bolger made an abrupt U-turn on his initial preference for New Approach to enter the Irish Derby.

Ballydoyle’s Aidan O’Brien, the season’s form trainer, with wins at both the Irish and English Guineas, has five runners in the field for Sunday’s race. 12/1 King of Rome is currently surging in the betting markets after top jockey Johnny Murtagh selected him as his ride for Sunday.

Another of O’Brien’s runners, Frozen Fire, also looks like a good outside bet for the 2008 Epsom Derby at a price of 14/1. Barbadian trainer Sir Michael Stoute is also represented at the race, with his best prospect, Tajaaweed, priced at odds of 7/1.

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