My thoughts on this year's enthralling Derby can be found in a piece I wrote earlier in the week for Betfair, touching on those with the more suitable stride patterns in the field.
Benvenuto Chellini would be a confident selection providing conditions don't turn attritional by race time. In contrast, James J Braddock won't mind every shower that falls and looks to have all the components required to deliver a huge performance.
Ancient Egypt would be my third pick, with the proviso that he prefers decent ground to operate efficiently.
Epsom, 14.05 - Back Sparks Fly @ 7/24.50
It could be a big afternoon for owner Dave Lowe who has Sparks Fly striving to atone for a luckless run in this event 12 months ago and Partisan Hero bidding to complete a notable Epsom hat-trick in the finale.
Lowe also has chances of a winner at Chepstow, but Sparks Fly is the first point of reference as the rain that has fallen this week should play to her strengths and she ran a blinder in the face of stiff opposition at Chester.
To finish within a couple of lengths of last year's Derby winner Lambourn, himself vying for third favouritism in a hot renewal of the Coronation stakes, and Bay City Roller who also tackles today's Group 1 test on the back of a brilliant run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, was some effort from the selection.
Suited by deep ground or decent conditions, Sparks Fly was hemmed in a pocket at a crucial point of last year's renewal and unfortunately the aggressively-ridden Spiritual had flown by the time David Loughnane's extricated herself under Laura Person.
That the selection closed down runner-up Bright Thunder in the final furlong was highly impressive and it was no surprise that the selection boasted the best finishing speed percentage in the race with a figure of 105.6%.
Hopefully, she enjoys more breaks today and can supplement last autumn's French Group 3 win on easy ground with a similar success on these shores.
Back Sparks Fly in 14:05 at Epsom
Epsom, 17.55 - Back Partisan Hero each-way @ 15/28.50
Having tipped Partisan Hero in a Chester handicap at the May meeting due in some part because of an advantageous low draw, I was a little frustrated to see that track position foresaken leaving the gates, a decision which arguably contributed to the gelding's demise.
The six-year-old had made the running in that corresponding race the year before being collared late on by another track specialist in Two Tempting and the exertions clearly did him no harm as a month later he claimed the seven furlong handicap at this meeting.
That three-length Chester defeat saw the six-year-old dropped by the handicapper and the selection duly took advantage of that spin around the Roodee to score at a huge price next time out at York.
It goes without saying I wasn't on that day as a high draw appeared to be anything but a positive given the way the week had panned out on the Knavesmire, but Rab Havlin arguably made the difference by allowing his mount to drift left in the final couple of furlongs so a starting point in box 20 was rendered largely irrevelevant.
Havlin keeps the ride here and, although the draw could have been a little kinder, there have been winners of this race in the past decade been drawn 13, 10, 12 and 15 so a double-figure berth is not insurmountable.
Back Partisan Hero each-way in 17:55 at Epsom