AIDAN O'BRIEN has long played the numbers game to get the desired result, but even by the Irish maestro's standards his eight-strong mob-handed Derby assault is verging on the bizarre.

Figuring out the classy octet's pecking order is simple since Mick Kinane, the stable's number one jockey, rides the second favourite, Archipenko, a few points behind red-hot market leader, Authorized.

Authorized boasts the top credentials, however he's no value at even money and I don't fancy Archipenko, so the each-way nod from this quarter goes to another of Aidan's runners, Eagle Mountain.

Some bright sparks reckon the 2,000 Guineas is the by far the best Derby trial, therefore we shouldn't be too wide of the mark seeing as Eagle Mountain (4.20) finished a creditable fifth in the race.

And given the form of the Guineas is beginning to work out supremely well, plus the manner with which the selection acquitted himself in that contest, the case for Eagle Mountain seems viable.

The mile-and-a-half distance is of course the great imponderable, nevertheless the way the son of Rock Of Gibraltar resolutely plugging on at Newmarket gave every indication he'll stay the longer trip.

It's a crying shame our region has failed to supply one single contestant in the Group 1 Classic, but at least we've definitely got live chances on the card, starting with Zaham (2.00) in the opener.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Middleham trained colt was astonishingly only put up 6lbs for winning a hugely valuable and competitive Newbury Handicap in mid-May.

Ostensibly the Sheikh is laughing all the way to the bank because he's privy to a potentially Group class customer, still able compete at lower levels and with a handy weight to boot.

The Vodafone Dash is packed with leading sprinters from around these parts, which doesn't make the selection process any easier.

A high draw normally holds sway on the fastest five-furlong track in the world, a crucial factor which bodes nicely for John Quinn's Caribbean Coral (3.30), set to burst out of gate 17.

Caribbean Coral, who took the prize in the self-same event two years ago off a mark of 92, is now 2lbs lower despite his recent last gasp Chester success.

Although the eight-year-old was sent off an 8-1 co-favourite in the breath-taking sprint 12 months ago, he could never land a blow at the leaders after a slightly tardy start.

You could run this type of race ten times and get a different result every time, however given the position of Quinn's raider near to the fence, the in-form gelding's prospects have been much enhanced.

At the other end of the distance spectrum, John has another possibility of waltzing to the winners' enclosure via Leslingtaylor (5.05) in the mile-and-a-half Music Stakes Handicap.

Leslingtaylor rounded off a fantastically successful season over jumps when slamming his rivals in the sought-after Swinton Hurdle at Haydock.

The five-year-old has made terrific strides during the winter over the sticks, improvement which if transfered to the level, makes him an extremely well-handicapped individual on this return to the Flat.

Channel 4's cameras are heading to Musselburgh where course specialist, How's She Cuttin' (2.20), can with luck maintain Thirsk' trainer David Barron's purple patch.

Still on cloud nine after lifting Monday's Zetland Gold Cup with Flipando, David sends the speedy four-year-old back to a venue which suits her run-style to a tee.

Four wins, three of which have been achieved today's course and distance, represents a near-perfect strike-rate from just eight career starts for How's She Cuttin', who doesn't know how to perform poorly.

Provided the Tradesman's Derby is not ruined by a funereal early pace, Polyquest (3.20) could be the one to keep on your side.

Gerard Butler's filly clearly relished the furious gallop set by the front-runners at Pontefract, coming out of the pack to cut down the leaders inside the final furlong.

Polyquest has started winning at the right end of the ratings and is also sure to get every assistance from Royston French, one of the most underrated and under-employed riders in the land.

Colin Woods (Janus) is in cracking form coming into this afternoon's Derby having napped yesterday's Oak's heroine, Light Shift (13-2), which came hard-on-the-heels of Thursday's best bet, Sierra Vista (5-1), in Sandown's Temple Stakes.