STORMING HOME, currently best priced at around 14-1 with the leading layers, represents superb each-way value in this afternoon's Epsom Vodafone Derby worth £580,000 to the winner.

Of the confirmed 12 runners, Storming Home (3.50) is the sole contender to have actually won at Epsom, a uniquely undulating course with a violent camber sloping from right to left throughout the testing final three-and-a-half-furlongs to the winning line.

The three-year-old son of Machiavellian began his preparation impressively enough, easily picking up a relatively soft Classic trial at the track in April.

And he improved significantly on that effort when third to Dilshaan in the much more competitive Dante Stakes at York last month, where he quite possibly could have prevailed, but for wandering and losing vital momentum at the two-furlong marker.

To combat Storming Home's tendency to idle and help him reverse the form with much shorter-priced 4-1 shot Dilshaan, Hills has decided to fit a sheepskin noseband to his charge.

Explaining the tactics, Hills said: "Storming Home has a lot of ability but hasn't been the fastest of learners. He can switch on and off during his races, the noseband will probably help him to concentrate."

Barry's son, Michael, who takes the ride, is also extremely upbeat about the combination's prospects."

Michael has already partnered one previous Derby winner in the shape of 1996 hero Shaamit, while less fortunately his father has suffered the desperate disappointment of saddling the runner-up in the Blue Riband of the turf four times.

Amazingly Barry has three other contestants in this year's re-run - Mr Combustable (25-1), Chancellor (18-1) and the strongly fancied winner of the Lingfield Trial, 6-1 shot Perfect Sunday, who most definitely warrants a small saver.

Market leaders Golan and Galileo have obvious claims, although there can be little value in supporting either at approximate odds of 5-2.

Perhaps the most interested spectator of all will be Kieren Fallon, originally due to be re-united with the far-from-certain-to-stay Golan, aboard whom he recorded a pulsating success in the English 2,000 Guineas.

A minor misdemeanour at Ayr by Fallon has since led to an untimely three-day ban, paving the way for super-sub Pat Eddery to ride Sir Michael Stoute's number one string.

Galileo, bidding to complete a famous double for Ireland's Aiden O'Brien after Imagine's cosy victory in yesterday's Oaks, has plenty of questions to answer having never performed on any other stage than Leopardstown, a vastly different arena to Epsom.

Janus' 1-2-3 prediction: 1 Storming Home; 2 Dilshann; 3 Perfect Sunday.