Frankie Dettori's final Derby ride disputing favouritism again after early morning drift in most open heat since 1999

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Market movers: Arrest disputing favouritism after morning drift

A Group 1 double on Oaks day for Frankie Dettori and John and Thady Gosden propelled the combination's Betfred Derby (1.30) hope Arrest to the top of the market with most firms, and he is back disputing favouritism with Military Order and Auguste Rodin after an initial morning drift.

Arrest started the day as a general 3-1 favourite – as short as 11-4 in some places – to give Dettori an incredible Epsom treble last achieved by Geoff Lewis in 1971, winning the Coronation Cup, Oaks and Derby, but drifted out to a general 9-2 on Saturday morning. However, he has since returned to a general 4-1.

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Arrest was an impressive scorer on soft ground in the Chester Vase last month, with the reopposing Adelaide River six and a half lengths behind in second, and bids to give Dettori a third victory in the Classic.

Military Order: disputing favouritism for the DerbyCredit: Mark Cranham

Military Order attempts to give Charlie Appleby a third Derby victory in six years and emulate his brother Adayar, who was second in the Lingfield trial before conquering his rivals in the 1m4f Group 1.

Auguste Rodin is 4-1 with Paddy Power and the Betfair Sportsbook but as big as 5-1 elsewhere, while Military Order features around the 4-1 and 9-2 mark.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “We weren’t entirely sure yesterday, even after Frankie Dettori and John and Thady Gosden completed a Group 1 double and the cash came piling in for Arrest, that he would go off favourite."

This is the most wide-open Derby betting since Dubai Millennium was sent off the 5-1 favourite in 1999, the year in which Oath gave Henry Cecil his fourth and final victory in the Classic.

1.30
Arrest 4-1 (from 3-1)

2.45
Estate 4-1 (from 7-1)

Going update: 'Quickest conditions since Galileo'

The Betfred Derby (1.30) is set to be run on the quickest ground Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper can remember since Galileo's Derby in 2001.

Cooper and his team applied 5mm of irrigation after racing on Friday which maintained the going at good to firm, with the description given as good in places on the sprint course which hosts the 'Dash'.

Andrew Cooper: clerk of the course at EpsomCredit: Edward Whitaker

Cooper said: "We did the 5mm watering cycle here that was intended and the team finished about midnight. The vast majority is very straightforward good to firm, you'll find the odd slower bit and you'll find the odd quicker bit for sure, but as a description at this stage I think good to firm is fair.

"The days have been quite similar of late with cloudy starts breaking up at various times in the morning or lunchtime. Our thinking for today was that it was going to clear latest 10am this morning and be a potentially slightly warmer day than yesterday, maybe up to 22C.

"I don't think it's going to be wall-to-wall sunshine, sunny spells and intermittent cloud that sort of thing, but obviously a warmish, dry day - less breeze than we've had of late.

"In ground terms today, and I've done a lot of Derbys, this walks at the moment very similar to Galileo's Derby in 2001, and it's probably, at this stage of the day, the quickest description and condition as I've probably had since then."

"That year we didn't water, we raced on good to firm on the Friday, didn't water overnight and raced on good to firm on the Saturday."

Galileo powers to victory in the 2001 Derby under Mick KinaneCredit: Gerry Cranham

Racegoers travelling to Epsom face the difficulty of train strikes, but Cooper is hopeful for a good turnout for arguably the world's most famous horse race.

Cooper added: "There are various impacts to the crowd. The early start and train strikes in particular, but the weather looks nice and we're set fair for the afternoon, so hopefully there will be a big crowd."

Animal Rising, the group that delayed the Grand National in April, has been very vocal in its determination to stop the Derby from taking place and has vowed that there will be as many as 1,000 protesters descending on the famous Downs.

Extra security has been put in place and Cooper simply said: "Rest assured we'll all be doing our best to keep the protesters out."

Read Saturday's previews...

12.50 Epsom: 'He looks the one to beat based on his best form' - confidence behind Godolphin runner in Diomed Stakes 

1.30 Epsom: 'He has always been special, nothing has changed our minds' - is leading Derby fancy Auguste Rodin the real deal? 

2.10 Epsom: 'We expect her to go well' - can Group 1 winner Prosperous Voyage find form in Princess Elizabeth? 

2.45 Epsom: 'He has a nice profile for the race' - key quotes and analysis for three-year-old sprint handicap 

3.20 Epsom: 'The track will really suit him' - analysis and key quotes for big-field Epsom Dash 

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