It's going to take me a very long time to get over Rhododendron's defeat yesterday.
I'm hurting badly but I've picked myself up again and dusted myself down to hopefully provide some winners for one of the biggest days of the flat racing calendar, Investec Derby day.
Here are Danny Archer's selections...
2:00: Epsom - Desert Skyline 7/2f at Ladbrokes and Emenem 8/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes.
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David Elsworth's Desert Skyline finished a fine second in a Listed event last time by a nose having looked the likely winner in the closing stages. That's a cracking piece of form and entitles him to be in the shake-up here.
Local trainer Simon Dow saddles Emenem who won a handicap event at Epsom in April and with that all important course form behind him, that's a major positive.
2:35: Epsom - Absolute Blast 10/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes and Epsom Icon 12/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes.
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Archie Watson has booked Pat 'the Sniper' Smullen for the five-year-old who has been in excellent form on the All-Weather. She has run ok on turf in the past and I think she could outrun his odds.
Epsom Icon is also interesting because she has registered 2 wins from 2 starts at Epsom which included victory in this race last year. She looked to be returning to form with a fine effort at Ascot last time and she looks worth chancing in this open event.
3:10: Epsom - Sovereign Debt 13/2 Each Way at Ladbrokes and Ballet Concerto 9/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes. .
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Sovereign Debt has been in scintillating form recently which included a fine victory at Sandown last time. He has to give weight to all his rivals here but he is a really classy operator and he looks worth a bet.
Ballet Concerto was bitterly disappointing when only fifth at Newmarket last time but he remains a typical Stoute improver and hopefully he can regain the winning in this race over a slightly shorter distance.
3:45: Epsom - Kimberella 10/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes and El Astronaute 10/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes.
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The quickest sprint in Britain could go to Richard Fahey's Kimberella. Evidently better over six furlongs, he should still handle the drop back in trip and despite shouldering plenty of weight, he has a classy 7lb claimer in on board and he was second in this race last year. I fancy him strongly to run a big race.
El Astronaute pinged the gates from stall 1 at Chester last time and was not for catching. That was an impressive success as was his victory over course and distance at Epsom in August. That showed he can handle this track and the electric pace of the five furlong sprint so he is worth supporting.
4:30: Epsom - Cliffs Of Moher 5/1j Each Way at Ladbrokes (1/4), Eminent 15/2 Each Way at Ladbrokes and Venice Beach 16/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes.
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This is one of the most open renewals of the Investec Derby that I have seen in many years. There looks to be plenty of strength in depth but most importantly, the field look so unexposed as the trials didn't make this punting puzzle any easier.
My main selection however is Aidan O'Brien's Cliffs Of Moher who bids to give the master of Ballydoyle his sixth Derby victory. Winner of the Dee Stakes at Chester last time, he looked like he was crying out for the step up in trip that day and he also looked like he would improve massively physically and also mentally for that run. He is hugely unexposed and the son of Galileo should hopefully handle Epsom. I just have a feeling there is more to come from him and he has been hyped as the stable's main Derby hope for a long time. The vibes have been positive in recent days despite a slight drift in the market and I really fancy him to run well.
Speaking to people at Epsom this week, Eminent has also been well touted. The son of Frankel seemed to handle the track very well at Breakfast With The Stars and was crying out for a longer trip in the 2000 Guineas as he just couldn't get involved off a slow pace. He should stay this far and he has apparently been flying at home and beating the clock quite impressively.
Venice Beach won the Chester Vase on the Roodee last time and I was quite impressed with the way he lengthened that day. He could be ridden handy in this event and he does remain unexposed. He kept on really well last time and he might be slightly overpriced.
5:15: Epsom - Shraaoh 3/1f at Ladbrokes and Gawdawpalin 4/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes(1/4).
Sir Michael Stoute's Shraaoh hasn't run since August but he does a look a potentially typical four-year-old improver for the Newmarket handler. Fifth last time out at York in what has turned out to be a pretty decent event, he is probably better suited by the drop back to 12 furlongs.
Gawdawpalin won over 10 furlongs at this meeting last year but speaking to the Kirk team this week, they are pretty confident that this trip should suir and he ran well at the track in the City and Suburban last time.
5:50: Epsom - Blaine 8/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes and Clear Spring 18/1 Each Way at Ladbrokes.
Brian Barr looked to have done a sterling job with Blaine as he won on his debut for the yard at Newbury last time. He has a talented 7lb claimer on board and given he won this event last year, he is capable of running well again.
Clear Spring is also a course and distance winner and whilst he was quite disappointing at Goodwood last time after previously running with credit at Newbury, he has a decent rating at the moment and despite getting older, he could run a decent race.
As some of you will know, I've been at Epsom most of this week and am therefore struggling for time to do full write-ups. Here are some selections I like the look of elsewhere on Saturday.
5:10: Doncaster - Valcartier 5/4f NAP at Ladbrokes.
8:20: Lingfield - Compass Scoobie 2/1f at Ladbrokes.
8:50: Lingfield - Monteamiata 4/1f at Ladbrokes.
3:25: Musselburgh - Alabaster 4/1 at Ladbrokes.
4:00: Musselburgh - Desert Dream 2/1f at Ladbrokes.
4:40: Navan - Muzbid 3/1 at Ladbrokes.
7:10: Newcastle - Kullu 9/4f at Ladbrokes.
2:55: Worcester - Ink Master 2/1f at Ladbrokes.