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ON ONE of the biggest days of the flat racing season we have one of the most open renewals of the Derby Stakes (1.30) in many a year at Epsom with plenty of questions to answer.

Is Augustin Rodin the super horse Aidan O’Brien believes he still is or is his 2,000 Guineas run a real reflection of his possibly over rated ability?

How much does Military Order have to improve on a job well done, but quite probably no more when he landed the Lingfield Derby Trial in a professional manner. 

Or can Sprewell land an emotional success for Jessie Harrington after running away with the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown last month?

There are so many ifs and buts going into this year’s race, and as per normal several runners outside the main market leaders either have severe doubts about staying the trip or those that are more stoutly bred possibly not having the latent speed to be in with a chance of striking for the gold medal inside the final furlong or so.

The percentage call is that it is hard to doubt O’Brien who has been hugely outspoken about the son of Deep Impact.

He has always looked a well-balanced sort and could easily be the pick, but when a race of this nature is so wide open, I always look for the value each-way play, and that could well come in the form of the unbeaten ARTISTIC STAR (nap).

Yes, Ralph Beckett’s charge has only won a maiden at Nottingham as a two-year-old and a novice at Sandown Park, but he has run smoothly through each contest with defeat never a plausible offering.

Although we have no evidence of it, with his last race run on May 16, I have a feeling that it could turn out to be very useful form with some well-bred sorts from top stables in behind him that day, and his trainer is not one to over face his young horses at the highest level.

His breeding would strongly suggest that this quicker ground will not be a problem, and he has a bundle of improvement in him. If it takes him a bit more time to step forward from those two runs then I could easily see him developing into a St Leger type later on in the season.

Also at a double-figure price, if the market leaders blow out I fancy that the stoutly bred Dubai Mile will also run a huge race, while O’Brien’s outsider Adelaide River could also hit the four at a mighty price as well.

The opening Group Three Diomed Stakes at 12.50 has a small, but select field with Highland Avenue a short priced favourite.

There should certainly be plenty of pace in the race with Marie’s Diamond set to bowl along downhill out in front, but such a set-up should also suit the lightly raced KOLSAI who didn’t seem to run his race properly in a stop-start contest at Goodwood in a conditions race at the beginning of May.

I fancy that the son of Oasis Dream is a deal better than that run would suggest and can improve past some mainly exposed rivals here.

The Handicap at 3.20 looks wide open as always, but ALLIGATOR ALLEY has a cracking chance now that the assessor has dropped him in the ratings to a mark of 96 after wins last autumn and winter off 92, 96 and 100.

His run behind Chipstead at York last time out was better than his finishing position suggests, eighth of 14 yet only beaten a mere two-and-a-quarter lengths and with the first-time visor fitted here and a nice draw in stall 14, I think he only needs to find a passage way through beaten horses to play a part in the finish.

That kind of set-up suits him perfectly as it seems he needs to run into trouble to run to his best form, and the cream on the cake is that he has run well on his only start over the fastest five furlongs on the planet.

The big six furlong handicap that ends the card at the Surrey track at 5.05 looks another huge conundrum of a race which can readily be won and lost at the start as the field fire down Tattenham Corner into the home stretch.

Unlike in the earlier handicap, a low draw is a plus as long as you don’t miss the kick, and top weight APOLLO ONE could well be the pick.

He has the burden of a welter weight and a mark of 97, but he has earned that level thanks to not being disgraced at Listed and Group Three level in the past.

Placed off marks of 98 and 100 in the recent past and rated as high as 104, he looks nicely treated here and this may not have as much strength in depth as at first glance.

Away from Epsom, I shall be having a wager on the likes of MERRICOURT in the 1.15 at Musselburgh and later on at the Edinburgh track FAST RESPONSE (3.05) and STAY SMART (4.50) both have leading claims.

The former of that duo runs over seven furlongs for the first time in her career after finishing strongly over the stiff five furlongs at Bath last time out in Listed company.

Around this tight track on a sound surface, I think that the daughter of Fast Company has every chance of getting home.