The 56-year-old Irish trainer's Benvenuto Cellini is the favourite but a strong home challenge could thwart his hopes of becoming the first trainer to win the race on four successive occasions.If he were to succeed, it would also be his record-extending 12th Epsom Derby victory.AFP Sport picks out four lively contenders from the 14 runners in a race commonly referred to as the 'Blue Riband' of British flat racing: Benvenuto CelliniNamed after an Italian sculptor, he heads the four-pronged O'Brien team -- Action, Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard the others -- and is the pick of first-choice jockey Ryan Moore.
Jockey Ryan Moore (L) has chosen Benvenuto Cellini over three other Aidan O'Brien-trained (R) runners © BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP
Benvenuto Cellini -- who has been drawn in stall 12 like two of O'Brien's previous winners, Australia (2014) and Serpentine (2020) -- is favourite based on his impressive win in last month's Chester Vase.He certainly has his trainer purring. "Benvenuto is the most incredible mover, very like his grandad (2001 winner Galileo)," he told the Racing Post."He might be a bit quicker than him, too. But he has that beautifully balanced action. His movement is incredible. He moves with so much class." ItemThe unbeaten English runner presents trainer Andrew Balding with a great chance to emulate his late father Ian, who trained the legendary Mill Reef to win the 1971 Epsom Derby.Balding has twice come close to winning the race, with Khalifa Sat and Hoo Ya Mal filling the runners-up spot in 2020 and 2022 respectively.Item became a live contender when he won the influential Derby trial the Dante Stakes at York last month, beating both Action and Christmas Day."He's a horse we've always liked and it seems to me that the further he goes the better he gets, which has got to give us some hope for Epsom," said Balding, who also saddles outsider A Taste of Glory. "The difficult thing is he is still quite a raw horse and it can be a tricky track for inexperienced horses, that would be my concern."Balding, 53, grew up with a statue of Mill Reef in the stable yard -- come Saturday evening Item may have earned the right to be similarly honoured. James J. BraddockNamed after the American who was heavyweight boxing world champion from 1935-37, he has earned his right to battle for the title after beating Pierre Bonnard in a derby trial in Ireland.
