DERBY day at Epsom always serves up a feast of star-studded action and this afternoon is no exception.

I've already made a strong case for supporting Unigold (4.00) in the big race and neither should his classy stable-mate Anani (1.40) be ignored in the opening mile-and-a-quarter Vodafone Live Handicap.

Anani has the stamp of an ultra-progressive three-year-old, opening up his campaign by slamming Jebel Suraaj in a one mile maiden at Ascot. The latter went on to land a huge gamble in a red-hot Sandown handicap, while Anani was subsequently only just touched off in a 0-105 Class contest at Goodwood.

Whichever way you analyse that form it always ends up in the top drawer and the booking of Irish ace Mick Kinane represents the icing on the cake as far as his potential backers are concerned.

Since Epsom is home to by far and away the fastest five furlong track in the country (the course record is just over 55 seconds), there's nothing like watching the sprinters literally explode from the stalls for the Vodafone Dash, a Listed Handicap over the minimum trip.

The speedster making all of the headlines at the moment is Dubaian Gift (3.10), who has stormed to successive victories at Lingfield and Windsor on his last two outings.

His rookie handler, Andrew Balding, has wasted little time making a name for himself and yesterday's win with Casual Look in the Oaks was a quite stunning result for the first season trainer.

But Andrew still has some climbing to do before he reaches the dizzy heights achieved by our own king of the speed merchants, Dandy Nicholls, who holds a strong hand in the closing six furlong handicap, a race he won last year with Onlytime Will Tell.

On current evidence it's hard to envisage an identical result, although Nicholls could still prevail with one of his other runners, Loyal Tycoon (5.20), not beaten far on either of his last two starts in similarly competitive events.

Former champion apprentice Robert Winston has endured a rotten spring and early summer, hit by both injury and lack of decent opportunities.

One thing is for sure you don't become a bad jockey overnight and fortunately he seems to have turned the corner over the past few days. Winston could well be back amongst the winners in the opener at Doncaster where Mark Buckley's consistent mare, Effervesce (1.50), is in with a serious shout for the Tattenham Corner Fillies' Stakes.

Malton-based handler John Quinn decided to revert to a longer trip for his popular grey Smart Predator (3.25) at Thirsk earlier this week and the ploy of upping him to seven furlongs so nearly worked.

Smart Predator beat all bar Quito on that occasion and he's fancied to go one better from his favourable high draw in the Alfea San Rossore Handicap.

The Stanley-sponsored Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock has attracted some pretty smart sorts including Proud Boast (2.05) trained by Geraldine Rees at nearby Preston.

Like many mares, Proud Boast is improving with age and I liked the way she kept the pressure over the final furlong in a Listed Kempton event won by Peruvian Chief.

Royal Ascot-bound Peruvian Chief is an excellent yardstick for the older sprint division at present and I fully expect Proud Boast to be bang on the premises with the highly competent Tony Culhane on board.

Jumping fans get their two-penny worth of thrills and spills at Worcester where Richard Guest's lightly-raced Vidi Caesar (2.55) is worth close scrutiny in the Ron Sims Novices' Handicap Chase.

Vidi Caesar was placed on the Flat in his native New Zealand, plus has shown promise over hurdles in this country. Instead of persisting with the smaller obstacles, Guest has grasped the bull by the horns and his bold ploy to send the eight-year-old chasing may well pay dividends today.

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