Epsom Derby preview: Stephen Harris highlights his fancies and those he is keen to oppose The Irish challenge at Epsom on Saturday is as strong as ever with trainer Aidan O’Brien chasing his 12th Epsom Derby victory. With nine of those wins coming in the last fourteen years, Chester Vase winner Benvenuto Cellini is unsurprisingly heading the market. Stephen Harris, who tipped Thundering On to win the Oaks at 11-2, has also previewed the premier Classic flagging up which horses he fancies and two contenders he definitely won’t be backing. Get a host of free bets with BOYLE Sports to spend on the action Read Stephen Harris' thought below on the main protagonists. Benvenuto Cellini It would be no surprise if he won. He was very impressive at Chester and they put the absolute crown jewels on at Chester. He ended up 9-2 on. He'd been about 2-1 earlier in the day. So the heavy mob certainly knew, and I suspect he might end up quite a short-price favourite on Saturday as long as it is just good to soft. In terms of form, he only beat Proposition, there wasn't really a second in, in that race at Chester. He was very impressive, very strong crossing the line. If Ryan's able to get a good position early and hold his pitch, he's not going to be stopping. I don't see him as an explosive quickener, I wouldn't want him held up eighth, trying to quicken on the wide outside to pick them all up late, that's not going to be his game. Item I don't fancy him at all. I think he's got to a ridiculously short price. Generally speaking, I'm not a lover of York form full stop on completely different ground. When it was testing last year they took him out. I'm not saying it's going to be testing, but I think he's a fast-ground horse. He's a hard puller, he's got plenty of speed. I think the only reason he won the Dante at York is because the favourite Action jacked it in off the bridle, and the other one who didn't look like he was going that well - having taken quite a keen grip early - he eventually ground them down. It was a typical funny race at York. York and Epsom are like chalk and cheese, totally different tracks. I don't think he'll like the track, I'm not even sure he'll stay, and I think he's priced on those colours and the fact that he's the only non-Irish one with any realistic chance. So I'd have to be against him and I might be against him at a place. Pierre Bonnard My thoughts are that the rain has absolutely come in time for him. Soumillon is booked for the ride. I quite like him around Epsom. I know it's sort of a masochistic thing - you know he's going to find trouble and do something wrong, but when he last rode Pierre Bonnard, it was in that soft ground at Saint Cloud last year and he revelled in it. It's the only time he's ever been on him, and he quickened clear. He really did handle it well. I'm not sure you should read too much into those two defeats. I know he's been strong enough in the market, but first time out I think he definitely needed the run and he never got in that race. And last time I thought he ran well, he probably paid the price for going for the leader early and he got picked off by James J Braddock. I think Pierre Bonnard will relish a mile and four furlongs, and any more rain that falls has got to be in his favour. The only thing is I was looking at 8-1 when I was making my notes, I think he's now 5-1 with Betfair. So some of the juice has gone. Thoughts on other contenders I can't really fancy Ancient Egypt at all. He was 25-1 when he won at Newmarket. I don't think that was much of a race, and the ground was very fast. Charlie said he wants fast ground. It's not going to be fast ground. Bay of Brilliance, I wouldn't be surprised if Bay of Brilliance reversed the form with Maltese Cross. Perhaps Bay of Brilliance has got a bit more natural ability and Maltese Cross is a bit of a scrapper and a grinder. Ralph Beckett's been a little bit quiet, maybe only three winners in the last fortnight, whereas Haggas has had eleven in the last fortnight, he's flying. I just suspect one of the Irish horses wins it. Probably Benvenuto Cellini. My selection was Pierre Bonnard, but perhaps the price has halved and the juice is gone. If James J Bradock wins it'll be a good result for ‘racing’ with one of the heavy mob not winning it. I think that's probably a better story than another Ryan Moore/Aidan O'Brien jolly bolting up. Watch the Irish edge for more Epsom tips
