THE word is that 3/1 ante-post favourite King's Best will be hard to beat in the £1 million Epsom Derby on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute's three-year-old, the mount of champion jockey Kieren Fallon, has done little wrong in his preparation for racing's Blue Ribband, but there are doubts he will stay the distance. While I can't see the colt being out of the first three in the 1m 4f race, due off at 3.50, I prefer to look for better value elsewhere.

Godolphin have three in the race - Best Of The Bests, 10/1, Inchalong, 40/1 and Hatha Anna, 66/1. Best Of The Bests will now be ridden by the American jockey C McCarron, who replaces Frankie Dettori after he and fellow jockey Ray Cochrane escaped death when their light aircraft crashed after take-off at Newmarket earlier this week. Unfortunately, the pilot did not survive and our thoughts are with his family. Best wishes to both jockeys for a speedy recovery and quick return to the saddle.

I can't, however, see this being Godolphin's Derby and there are niggling doubts too regarding the preparation of the Henry Cecil duo Beat Hollow, the 11/4 second favourite and Wellbeing, 16/1. Aiden O'Brien's Irish raider Aristotle is well worthy of consideration under Mick Kinane at 5/1, while Sakhee's win for John Dunlop in the big Derby trial at York last month warrants current odds of 8/1.

However, I will stick with last week's selection Barathea Guest, to be ridden by the in-form Philip Robinson. Odds of 20/1 could still be gained midweek and the recommendation is an each way wager. My prediction of the Derby finishing order is this: 1 Barathea Guest, 2 Aristotle, 3 King's Best, 4 Sakhee.

The Vodafone Oaks, first of the two Classics at Epsom today looks to be between the two market leaders Love Divine, 7/4 and recent York winner Kalypson Katie, 11/4. The former, trained by Henry Cecil, is just preferred, with Lady Upstage a lively outsider at 25/1.

Back to Epsom on Saturday John Gosden's Supply and Demand can go close in the 1m 2f opener at 2.00, while David Nicholls' Proud Native makes the long trek from North Yorkshire to contest the five furlongs sprint at 4.35. The booking of top French rider Olivier Peslier enhances appeal in the six-year-old, runner-up last time out.

At Haydock, Tim Easterby's Pipalong looks the pick of the day in the six furlongs Listed race at 2.20.

The Roses Racing Club ended a long wait for their first winner when the three-year-old filly Pix Me Up landed the one mile claiming race at Ripon's evening meeting last week at odds of 10/1, getting up on the line under an enterprising ride from the apprentice lady jockey Lona Wands.

Trainer Kevin Ryan and connections were delighted at the improvement shown by Pix Me Up, who makes a quick racecourse reappearance in the one mile handicap at Haydock's evening meeting today. The race is due off at 8.10 and with further improvement expected I wouldn't put you off having a wager.

This week's Scoop6 races come from Epsom and Doncaster.

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