Carping on: owner Smith-Bernal taking Derby plunge with 250-1 shot Hiroshima

Koi carp collector Graham Smith-Bernal will be swimming with the big fish in Saturday's Investec Derby when his 250-1 outsider Hiroshima takes the plunge in the season's premier Classic.

The John Ryan-trained runner is rated just 87 after winning a Southwell maiden – ranking him 31lb below top-rated Anthony Van Dyck – and is 15-8 with Paddy Power to finish last at Epsom.

Ryan is not underestimating the task for Hiroshima, named after the Japanese city where his owner has enjoyed much success in the koi carp showing world, but believes he will perform better than market expectations.

"You wouldn't believe how much koi carp change hands for, much more than racehorses,” Ryan said on Wednesday. “Graham has a white one with a red spot on it just like the Japanese flag, which is much sought after out there, as you can imagine."

Hiroshima, who will be Ryan’s second Derby runner, was bought for just 28,000gns with a long-term ambition of running in the Derby for Surrey-based Smith-Bernal, who derives his fortune from Opus 2 International, which digitises court documents.

Ryan's Cadland Stables in Newmarket have a link to the Classic as the yard is named after the 1828 Derby winner, who is the only horse to win the race twice having taken a rerun following a dead-heat in the initial running of the contest.

Detail of a plaque outside Cadland Stables

While facing a tough task on paper, Ryan believes Hiroshima, who was eighth behind Anthony Van Dyck in the Lingfield Derby Trial last time out and will be partnered by Brett Doyle, the work rider of last year’s Epsom hero Masar, will relish the distance on Saturday.

He said: "Graham is realistic about the chances of Hiroshima but we're not going there to finish last. One thing I'll guarantee you is that the horse will get every yard of the mile and a half.

“He's had a run around Lingfield, which I regard as the best trial for Epsom, so we expect him to handle the track, but one thing he may struggle with is early speed. Unlike us, a lot of the opposition look to be mile-and-a-quarter horses and the hope is he could pick a few off late in the straight."

He added: "In the end there's only one Derby and if you're not in you can't win. After all, Hiroshima won't be able to run in it again, will he?"

How other Derby outsiders have fared – for better or worse

Terimon 1989
The Clive Brittain-trained Terimon shed his maiden tag at the eighth attempt at Leicester nine days before the Derby and defied a huge leap in grade to produce one of the great shocks in finishing second to Nashwan at 500-1. Michael Roberts’ mount went on to win the Juddmonte International two years later prior to a stallion career.

Noddies Way 2006
A racecourse debut in the Derby is a remarkably tall task and that proved the case for the John Panvert-trained Noddies Way, who fulfilled the dream of owner-breeder Wayne Cox by contesting the race at 500-1. The Racing Post’s in-running comment tells the tale: “Dwelt, last until brief effort for glory on outer halfway, 13th and weakening straight, soon behind.” He finished 30 lengths behind Sir Percy in 17th of the 18 runners.

Maidstone Mixture 2008
A hurdle victory at Strasbourg was the Classic preparation for Maidstone Mixture, who made his debut for Paul Murphy in the Derby. The 250-1 shot led until the 7f marker and then retreated through the field, finishing 89 lengths behind New Approach in last of the 16 runners.

Castlemorris King 2011
A five-race maiden going into the Classic, Castlemorris King made his debut for Epsom trainer Michael Attwater at 150-1. He wore a visor for the first time and raced prominently before fading on Tattenham Corner. He finished a 41-length 12th behind Pour Moi, beating one rival.

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