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THE first half of June is always a time in horse racing to relish with the very best of the breed racing in the Oaks and Derby and then of course on to one of the greatest festivals in the world at Royal Ascot.

By the time you read this column we will know the winner of the fillies’ classic. This year’s Derby though looks even more up for grabs and as always, Aidan O’Brien has a stranglehold on the event as those close to the event try and boost its popularity again after a plummet in general interest, specifically with the on course attendance.

I was lucky enough to grow up when the Derby was hugely popular and indeed my interest in the sport was heightened by the likes of Troy, Shergar, Slip Anchor and Lammtarra among others in the amazing list of winners at the Surrey track.

When I saw the list of declared runners for this year’s renewal, I thought it had the look of a set of stayers and indeed I have already backed two of the 14-runner field for the St Leger at the back end of the season.

One of the main factors for us punters to try and engage with will be the going and the weather. There was 30mm of rain on Tuesday and although we are set for a dry day today, heavy showers were forecast through the previous 48 hours.

The other factor looking at the 14 is that several of these like to race prominently so if we do get going with the word “soft” somewhere in the description, staying should very much be the name of the game.

I have backed Bay of Brilliance for the St Leger later on in the year and following his close second to Maltese Cross in the Lingfield Derby Trial, this stiffer test on softer ground will make him hard to keep out of the frame and I have backed him each-way here for this stern test for a three-year-old.

The added advantage for the son of New Bay is that ease in the ground, as it was for his sire, poses no issue. He showed that when winning his juvenile maiden at Goodwood last season, while his run at Lingfield also confirmed that an undulating track suits him well.

However, for win purposes today I would rather look elsewhere in the list. His conqueror Maltese Falcon is bred to excel over this trip, while of the home-trained runners the Dante winner, Item, is no certainty to see this out on this more testing ground, while Ancient Egypt has yet to encounter ground with dig in it.

That leads me on to the Irish challenge and Benvenuto Cellini is clearly regarded as the Ballydoyle number one based on his juvenile form and his comeback success on his three-year-old debut in the Chester Vase, where he looked better and better the further he went. Ground shouldn’t be a problem for this son of Frankel and although he will be very hard to keep out of the end game, he has been found in the marketplace.

So to my eyes that makes both the aforementioned Bay of Brilliance and my selection by a short head, CHRISTMAS DAY (4.00) the each-way players here.

The tip has always looked an out-and-out stayer since his maiden victory on heavy ground at Gowran Park. His success in the Ballysax Stakes followed by his third to Item in the Dante only further confirmed that view.

You can probably upgrade that third at York as he raced on the opposite side of the track to the first two home and with guaranteed stamina, I suspect that Ronan Whelan will ride his mount positively and if he does get the fractions right, I expect the pair to prove hard to pass coming down the home stretch.

The remainder of the day looks difficult at Epsom and much will depend on how much rain the track gets through the day, heavy showers are predicted around midday.

If the ground does turn genuinely soft then I would certainly be considering having a significant play on the lightly weighted NORTHWEST PASSAGE (5.20) in the Northern Dancer Handicap.

This son of Ulysses has no problem with give in the ground and his recent fifth of 11 at Ayr behind Footwork strongly suggests the handicapper has dropped him to a very reasonable mark, while the extra yardage should also be in his favour.

The selection is preferred to the Andrew Balding-trained Royal Ulixes, who is by the same sire and comes from a yard that remains in strong form. I would expect both horses to be well supported in the market.

Earlier on the card, TEN BOB TONY (1.30) should relish the softer ground in the Tattenham Corner Stakes after losing a shoe on his last Listed race start at Haydock Park when well fancied.

The first four home 12 months ago will line up in the concluding six furlong Tokyo Trophy Handicap on what could be similar ground and of the three, the winner SONDAD (5.55) is taken to confirm the form over Twilight Jet and Badri.

He confirmed himself to be hugely effective on such a surface when a cracking second behind Candy in the Ayr Silver Cup. His down the field 17th at York on a good surface was merely a warm-up for this and despite a 7lbs higher mark he still looks relatively unexposed.

BRAVE EMPIRE (1.20) looks an interesting play in the opener at Doncaster, while I will be interested to see if there is any money early on for SQUEALER (2.30) up against the lightly raced and unbeaten top weight Rose of Honour.

The selection peaked with his mark to 92 last season and is now right down in the weights to 78 and being a course and distance winner, he could well bounce back here off a very favourable rating.