There are so many stories to tell about the Epsom Derby weekend. There is so much to read and so much more to understand. There are new angles. The twists and the turns never end.

The situation I am in is something that I would not wish for anybody. I will make the most of what I know and sift through what I know to determine what you ought to know.

Let us begin with the weather. More than any continent, weather is a critical part of horse racing in Europe. The big races are run on the grass and rain helps some horses while some others cannot act on soft going. Epsom has been hit by heavy rain and despite rain staying on, Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course at Epsom Downs, has been upbeat. “The worst part is over. I walked the course and it is good to soft. On Friday, my prediction is that it will be slow side of good. Saturday should be OK if there is no further rain on Friday. There are no plans for watering.”

Weather jargon is nice to hear and indulge in but what is the bottom line? Given the forecast, I am saying that Friday and Saturday will be soft. Will some horses be averse to a soft track? Absolutely yes.

Here is something unusual from the point of view of a racing fan in India. VC Bet--a bookmaking company has said it is offering 4-5 that Epsom’s official going will be ‘good to soft’. Does gambling have any meaning any more?

On soft ground, there may be two withdrawals. Bronze Cannon, from John Gosden’s barn, may elect not to run. Rio De La Plata, the Godolphin colt, is unlikely to go if the ground deteriorates to soft. Frankie Dettori, Rio De La Plata’s rider, may not have a mount in the Derby. The 2007 Derby was won by Dettori.

Casual Conquest continues to head the market. Curtain Call is one of the better-backed contenders. New Approach is a general 5-1. King Of Rome will have John Murtagh’s services and his odds are dropping.

Jim Bolger’s New Approach is generating another debate. New Approach, an edgy colt, has had a companion when cantering to the starting gate. Epsom officials have not received a request form trainer Bolger. Several trainers have expressed the concern that the start may be delayed because New Approach and his companion would take an inordinately long time to get to the gate. The matter remains to be sorted out. Newspaper stories abound on this subject.

Friday’s feature is the Juddmonte Oaks and Lush Lashes, winner of the Musidora at York, heads the market. Clowance will have Frankie Dettori. Cape Amber and Chinese White have a big following. It is wide open. I will go with Lush Lashes. Her Musidora win was decisive. The Musidora stakes has been the foundation upon which success in the Oaks has been achieved.

Friday’s other big race is the Juddmonte Coronation Cup. Getaway, from Andre Fabre’s stable, is the general 5-4 choice. Ridden by Stephen Pasquier, Getaway, a son of Monsun, won the Jockey Club at Newmarket over the Guineas weekend. Papal Bull and Red Rocks are in the field but they lack Getaway’s form. Soldier Of Fortune, the 2007 Irish Derby hero, is a runner but this is his first start since finishing fifth in the Arc last October. I will go with Getaway, another public choice.

Both the Coronation Cup and the Oaks are over 2,400 metres. The Coronation Cup will be run at 3.35 PM and the Oaks will follow at 4.05 PM.  In 2007, Scorpion landed a price in the Coronation Cup. In the Oaks, Light Shift, ridden by Ted Durcan and trained by Sir Henry Cecil, won and one of her victims was Passage Of Time, the beaten favourite also trained by Henry Cecil.

What a weekend this is going to be? The Oaks and the Derby in England and at 11.25 PM London time on Saturday, I will be watching the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes on my computer in my hotel room. Big Brown stands at the cusp of making history.

I do not have an umbrella. I will get one today. The track may be wet but I do not want my suit to get wet. It is the train ride and walk to the Downs that I enjoy year after year. Chantilly has an ambience that is quiet and elegant. Epsom Downs has a carnival atmosphere amid all the serious business of horse racing and the presence of the Queen gives the two-day Derby festival a distinct Royal flavour.