EPSOM DOWNS 16:00

All 16 ran.

Time: 2m 33.63s

Overrounds: Industry SP 125%, Betfair SP 102.4%

This year's 3-y-o crop overall looks stronger than we've had for a few years and it appeals as a hot renewal of Flat racing's Blue Riband event, rated higher than any Derby since Workforce in 2010, and, unlike on a couple of occasions in recent years, there's a very solid look to the result too; a sound gallop was crucial in ensuring a fair race, the pacesetters easing off only slightly mid-race having worked hard early, and once hitting the home turn - which is well over 3f out - they pressed on fully and it developed in earnest from there, the big field always well enough strung out to avoid any serious crowding, Western Hymn the only one to really suffer obvious interference as he was hemmed in by Fascinating Rock to his outer coming down the hill from Tattenham Corner.

AUSTRALIA justified his lofty reputation, building on a very good third in what has proved to be an exceptionally strong renewal of the 2000 Guineas, and looks a star colt in the making, not needing to quite show top-class form on this occasion but rated higher than average for a Derby winner, and it was a very smooth display, value for extra as it was never in much doubt; even in the preliminaries it was clear to see that Australia genuinely is held in the very highest regard by all at Ballydoyle, saddled last of the four O'Brien runners, ensuring to keep him as relaxed as possible, not that he ever showed any angst, whilst presumably there'd been a request for him to be loaded into the stalls last of all too, and the race went equally as smoothly, perfectly positioned in mid-field, not forced too wide but with nothing to his outer, and he was always tanking along, making headway on the bridle over 2f out, the writing on the wall at that point, and after being produced to lead over 1f out he was just kept up to his work, maybe even idling a shade and always holding off Kingston Hill by a length or so late on; he does possess a lot of speed, that the most striking aspect of this performance, and, although he saw out the extra 4f well, Australia will not in any way be reliant on this trip to produce his best form, perhaps ideally made for 1¼m in fact, and a race like the Eclipse at Sandown early next month could provide him with the optimum test to display his talents further, acknowledging the Irish Derby is also likely to come under serious consideration; this was a third consecutive Derby success for Aidan O'Brien, his fifth in total, whilst the Coolmore breeding operation has won it a remarkable four times in a row and six times altogether, having landed their first with Galileo, sire of Australia, in 2001.

KINGSTON HILL couldn't be judged too much on his mid-field finish in the 2000 Guineas, which set him up for the season, and showed here that he is indeed a genuine Group-1 performer, relishing the 4f longer trip, and he put up a performance that would have won some lesser renewals of the Derby in recent years, bumping into a seriously talented rival in Australia and worth the utmost credit for being the only one to make him work in the closing stages; it was a good ride from Andrea Atzeni who did what he had to from a low draw and always had him prominent, giving himself the best chance of avoiding trouble from what can be a tricky starting point at this track, and he committed early in the straight, leading over 2f out and sticking to his task admirably after the winner had quickened by over 1f out, well clear of the remainder; he can gain compensation in the Irish Derby, assuming that's not where Australia will end up as well, and can be expected to hold his own in some of top races over this trip later in the season, including when up against his elders.

ROMSDAL goes from strength to strength, much better with every start to date, coping with big rises in class the last twice, quickly showing himself to be a very smart colt having only made his debut at the end of March; he chased the leaders throughout, pushed along early in the straight and briefly holding every chance, outpaced by the front two over 1f out but sticking to his task; both at Chester and here he's shaped like a strong stayer, set to be suited by 1¾m+, leaving scope for further improvement, and he'll surely be a big player in the St Leger later in the season, Australia for one very unlikely to go down that route, whilst Kingston Hill wouldn't be a guaranteed stayer like Romsdal.

AROD (IRE) is a notch below the very best, beaten on merit here, but, on the back of his second to subsequent French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby at York, it was another very good performance to hit the frame in a Derby, giving his all on an even bigger stage; mid-field, driven over 2f out, kept on but was no match for the principals; he's clearly effective at 1¼m to 1½m and should be winning listed/minor pattern races somewhere down the line.

RED GALILEO seemed to excel himself, showing much improved from, bettering his previous efforts more than any in the field, well suited by the longest trip he's tackled, in a soundly-run affair too, doing his best work at the finish having been dropped out in last place, although there is an element of him passing some tired horses who had worked harder early, Red Galileo ridden more to obtain the best possible placing; he wouldn't be sure to confirm superiority over the next wave of runners if they met again.

WESTERN HYMN lost his unbeaten record up in grade but ran well and deserves extra credit on the day, sure to have at least been pushing for fourth place had it not been such a rough race for him; bumped leaving stalls, raced off the pace, short of room over 4f out, bustled along to hold his position, then in the straight it took him time to get balanced on the track, making up ground late and finishing with running left; returning to somewhere more conventional ought to suit and, though probably not a Group 1 horse, he remains with potential.

TRUE STORY is still to back up his big performance in the Feilden Stakes but has excuses, seeming unsuited by the track, whilst he is a horse with plenty of speed and may prove best at around 1¼m; he broke awkwardly from the stalls and had to be shaken up early to chase the leaders, getting position but at no stage looking totally at ease, wandering once driven after 3f out and merely plugging on late.

FASCINATING ROCK (IRE) wasn't seen to best effect, having a difficult draw and caught widest of all throughout, forced to cover too much ground, and after a bit of barging with Western Hymn from over 4f out he weakened 2f out, never a threat; worth another chance and may yet do better.

EBANORAN (IRE) is quite an enthusiastic type, as seen last time in the Derrinstown, and although not pulling so hard here he didn't get home over the 2f longer trip; in touch, effort over 2f out, edged left, weakened; his turn of foot in a steadily-run race was the most taking aspect of his previous effort and he's likely to prove best at around 1¼m.

KINGFISHER (IRE) was found out in this much better company than when winning a listed race at Chester last month; pressed leader, every chance 3f out, left behind 2f out, not persevered with once held; worth another try at 1½m in calmer waters.

IMPULSIVE MOMENT (IRE) was flying too high in this grade and could never land a blow, always towards the rear, though not unduly punished with other days in mind, and the impression previously was that he could continue his progress; he should stay 1½m.

ORCHESTRA (IRE) is better than this, as defeat of Romsdal at Chester shows, but he didn't handle the occasion, sweating up/coltish beforehand and then pulling too hard in the race itself, steadied at the start and always behind.

OUR CHANNEL (USA) was stretched by 2f longer trip, not that he was up to the task, anyway; made running, headed over 2f out, folded over 1f out, found the test too much; will prove best up to 1¼m.

PINZOLO clearly wasn't 100% on the day; raced off the pace, struggling 3f out, eased off, never on terms; the twice that he's tried a Group 1 he's flopped and his 3 wins have all come in small fields.

SUDDEN WONDER (IRE) faced a stiff task and seemed unsuited by the track; chased leaders, went with little fluency, lost place home turn, eased off.

GEOFFREY CHAUCER (USA) run best ignored, reportedly hampered and losing his action when still off the pace, and heavily eased off in the straight.