It was at a meeting between Lord George Bentinck, breeder of the 1848 Epsom Derby winner Surplice, and the distinguished statesman, Benjamin Disraeli, in the library of the House of Commons that the Epsom Derby was first described as the "Blue Riband of the Turf". The phrase succinctly summarizes the importance of the race, the richest in Britain, whose 231st renewal is slated for this Saturday, June 5th. Banking group Investec will sponsor the event for the second year running, having taken over from long-time sponsor Vodafone.

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien, whose two previous winners of the race were Galileo and High Chaparral in 2001 and 2002 is the schooler of three of the dozen left in at the time of writing. Unfortunately, his team excludes potentially his best runner, St. Nicholas Abbey, whose prospects of participating have been scuppered by a pulled muscle – the colt had been ante-post favourite from October 2009 until last month when demonstrating lack of sparkle in his track work. In Jan Vermeer (Montjeu-Shadow Song, by Pennekamp), O'Brien has an able deputy who will be piloted by the stable's retained rider Johnny Murtagh. The colt has done little wrong after finishing fourth on his debut last year. Since then he has won all his three starts, including most recently the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes (Gr. 3) on May 23rd. However, as defeating Bobbyscot does not constitute world-beating form, the current best price of 2 to 1 against Jan Vermeer seems niggardly. The other O'Brien runner of consequence, Midas Touch (Galileo-Approach, by Darshaan) comes off a victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Gr.2) – which has proved to be a reliable trial in the past – and is currently quoted at 13 to 2, which represents better value. Colm O'Donoghue, a name quite familiar to Indian racegoers, has been pencilled in to ride.

At First Sight (Galileo-Healing Music, by Bering) seems to have been left in for pace-making duties – with J.A. Heffernan in the saddle, he is available at 150 to 1. Unbeaten Cape Blanco has been withdrawn and sent off to Paris for the shorter French equivalent on Sunday, a decision that is clearly dictated by the lack of stamina in his female family. Incidentally Cape Blanco's grandam, Foudroyer, once graced the paddocks of the Pratap Stud at Himmatnagar in Gujarat.

Moving on to the other powerhouse of European racing, Godolphin, it is interesting to see that their trio includes a pair of entries supplemented at a cost of £75,000 each. One of these is Buzzword (Pivotal-Bustling, by Danehill), a staying-on fourth in the French 2000 Guineas. Trained by newcomer Mahmood Al Zarooni, the colt – who has never been beyond a mile – will be steered by his regular pilot, Ahmed Ajtebi. It's easier to get 50 to 1 against him than to comprehend why exactly a horse of his modest accomplishments will be lining up at the start, although he is said to have worked well.

This is not to suggest that Godolphin will go away empty-handed. In fact, in the shape of their other supplementary entry, the 8 to 1 shot Rewilding (Tiger Hill-Darara, by Top Ville), they have a very live contender, more so as he is to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, successful in this race astride Authorized in 2007. Also saddled by Mahmood Al Zarooni, the colt comes off an impressive 4-length win in the Bluesquare.com Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood – formerly the Predominate Stakes – a trial won by Troy en route to Derby success in 1979. Prior to that Rewilding was a decent second to the promising Planteur in the Prix Noailles (Gr.2) in France when trained by Andre Fabre.

Al Zir (Medaglia d'Oro-Bayou Plans, by Bayou Hebert), about whose chances 25 to 1 can be had, rounds off the Godolphin team. In yet another surprise move, the Dubai-based operation have secured the services of Kieren Fallon, who knows his way around Epsom, having successfully guided Oath, Kris Kin and North Light in the Derby in previous years. This would be the first ride for Fallon in Godolphin's silks since October 2001. One doubts whether his experience alone will be enough for the Florida-bred colt, whose dam was bred in Illinois, to bridge the enormous gap between his pedigree and achievements to date on the one hand and those required in an Epsom Derby winner on the other.

Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who presides over one of the very best breeding operations in the world, Juddmonte Farms, has the pleasure of owning a pair of excellent home-bred prospects in Bullet Train (Sadler's Wells-Kind, by Danehill) and Workforce (King's Best-Soviet Moon, by Sadler's Wells). Both are lightly raced, having made only 3 and 2 starts respectively, and are open to significant improvement.

A victory for the former would give veteran Henry Cecil his fifth Epsom Derby. Cecil continues to repose his faith in stable jockey Tom Queally, under whom Bullet Train won the Totesport.com Lingfield Derby Trial (Gr.3) in impressive fashion. The 7 to 1 shot was ridden in front last time out, not exactly the perfect style of racing for an Epsom prospect with its long and daunting straight. In an exclusive interview with Indiarace, Teddy Grimthorpe, Racing Manager for Juddmonte, told this correspondent that with the expected fast pace typical of a Derby, it would not be necessary for the colt to make all.

Also aiming for a fifth success is another veteran, Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Workforce, runner-up last time in the Dante Stakes. While this race has been a dependable pointer to Epsom, it's a fact that no horse ever beaten in it has ever gone on to triumph in the bigger test. However, Workforce had an excuse in that the bit came out of his mouth in that event – plus he most definitely needed the experience. Described by Lord Grimthorpe as a "big, scopy sort", he is currently the second favourite at around 5 to 1, and will have the services of English champion jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle. Incidentally, just last week his sire has come up with a Derby winner in Eishin Flash, victorious in the Japanese Derby (Gr.1) on May 30th.

Dee Stakes victor Azmeel (trained by John Gosden, to be ridden by William Buick, quoted at 12 to 1), Coordinated Cut (Michael Bell-Jamie Spencer, 20 to 1), Hot Prospect (Michael Jarvis-Philip Robinson, 66 to 1) and Ted Spread (Mark Tompkins-Michael Hills, 33 to 1) are some of the other runners, all of which carry their connections' hopes. Of these, only the first two have a realistic shot, based on past form.

If one looks at trends over the past 10 years, the winner needs to be a horse who has:
• Made its debut at a top track
• Won over 7f or more as a two-year-old
• Run in the past 35 days
• Won or finished runner-up last time out In the final analysis, it looks like a fight between Rewilding, Jan Vermeer and Workforce, all of which qualify on the above grounds. The race is slated for a 4:00 p.m. BST start (8:30 p.m. in India).