Less than 70 days to go to the ‘most exciting 2 minutes in sport’ – the 2009 Kentucky Derby, which takes place May 2 at Churchill Downs.

The British Bookmakers are already taking bets on the race, and have priced up Old Fashioned as the 10/1 favourite. Old Fashioned won the Southwest Stakes the other day, in the same time as 2004 Derby winner Smarty Jones.

The last European runners were the 2 sent over by Aidan O’Brien in 2002, but there could be another challenger this year. Kempton Park is staging the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes on March 18, which gives us something to look forward to between the Cheltenham and Aintree meetings.

The winner is guaranteed a place in the Derby and will receive a £70,000 bonus if he lines up on the big day. O’Brien has 3 possible runners in Born To Be King, Chief Lone Eagle and Great Wisdom. Gerard Butler could enter Pachattack, who is by a good dirt sire – Pulpit.

However, the last filly to win the Derby was in 1988. Eight Belles was the 29th filly to run, who finished 2nd to Big Brown in last year’s race.

Dunkirk is 16/1 from 33/1 with Corals, but has only run twice. Neither of those wins was in a stakes race, but the bookies were impressed.

He was a $3.7 million purchase in 2007 – Old Fashioned fetched $800,000 at the time. Not convinced? His pedigree is tailor-made for the Derby. Mother Secret Status won the Kentucky Oaks, whilst his sire is proven at Grade 1 level.

The major concern with having a bet is that the only unraced 2 year old to win the Derby was Apollo in 1882. The history books would have to be re-written if Dunkirk triumphs in May.

16/1 Pioneer Of The Nile won his 3 year old debut in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in California.

20/1 Donativum won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, but no horse from Britain has ever won the Derby.

Flat Out is also 20/1 with Blue Square, but was beaten by Old Fashioned by more than 4 lengths in the Southwest Stakes.

20/1 Midshipman has won the Del Mar Futurity and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was then bought by Godolphin, who have been in great form at Nad Al Sheba. We should see him run in Dubai on March 5 in listed company.

40/1 West Side Bernie was 6th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but had to overcome a wide draw. He then had another lousy draw in January, finishing 3rd in the Holy Bull Stakes.

33/1 Chocolate Candy is another at a big price. He won the El Camino Real Derby in Northern California – his 4th win in 8.

Recommendation:

1pt ew @ 40/1 West Side Bernie (bet365: 1/4 odds 1,2,3)

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing international horse racing odds:

Kentucky Derby Betting