All eyes will be on Epsom Racecourse on Saturday afternoon as one of the best jockeys of all-time competes in his final Derby.

Italian Frankie Dettori confirmed he would retire at the end of the 2023 Flat season at the Breeders' Cup in California and Saturday's Derby will give him one last chance to win the prestigious contest.

The fans' favourite has won the event on two occasions in the past - on board Authorized and Golden Horn - and he will hope Arrest can provide him with a third and final Epsom showpiece success.

Arrest up against it at Epsom

The storytellers will be dreaming of a third Dettori success as he sails off into the sunset after his final Derby outing.

Dettori has had the career of a lifetime, but for all of his success as a jockey, he has only ever won two Derbys.

That is still a fantastic achievement, but two wins from 28 rides suggest this race is as hard as any to win, even if you are one of the best to ever do it.

In his defence, he did not compete in the race between 2012-2015, but in Arrest he does have a promising contender.

The three-year-old made his debut at Sandown in July 2022 and finished third behind Nostrum, with Dettori on board. The two reunited a month later to beat Desert Order over one mile, before Robert Havlin guided him to a victory at Ffos Las.

John and Thady Gosden's runner had to settle for second in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October last year, with Charlie and Mark Johnston's Dubai Mile winning over one mile and two furlongs on heavy ground.

Arrest responded perfectly last month on his first run of the season, winning the Chester Vase by six-and-a-half lengths.

Ruler Of The World was the last horse to win the Vase-Derby double back in 2013, while Juddmonte, the owners of Arrest, have not had a winner in the Derby since 2010.

As a son of Frankel, Arrest will always carry a weight of expectation and, while the future is bright, there are some doubts about his chances. 

The ground for this year's Derby should go against him, as his best two performances have come on softer ground. 

John Gosden has also said that Arrest may be better suited to a different course, which is not ideal ahead of Dettori's final Derby performance.

He told the Racing Post in May: "In my opinion, Arrest would be better suited to the Curragh than Epsom.

"He's a big, leggy boy with a high knee action, but on the other hand he acted well on the track. He's not the perfect build for Epsom like Golden Horn was, but he did it just fine. Now we'll wait and see what Frankie ends up doing!"

At 9/2, Arrest does offer readers some good value ahead of the Derby, and it is hard to oppose Dettori's form.

Dettori hoping to lean on his experience

The Derby is a race like no other in the British calendar and Dettori knows the contest like the back of his hand.

He comes into the race in incredible form himself, and he has a 26 per cent strike-rate this year when competing in Britain. He has already won 11 Group races this year and Dettori clearly means business in his final campaign in the saddle.

Dettori's booking will no doubt play a part in the pre-race prices, and many suspect Arrest could go off as the favourite due to the "Frankie factor".

The fiery Italian always seems to come up with the goods when it matters, as he did in 2007 onboard Authorized.

Authorized landed the race after flying home down the outside of the field, but it took Dettori eight years to win the race again.

Connections will hope history will repeat itself, as Dettori guided home Gosden's Golden Horn in 2015 at Epsom.

Saturday's Derby will be eight years since Dettori and Gosden's last winner, and there will be jubilant scenes if history were to repeat itself thanks to Arrest.

Stamina will be no issue for the progressive three-year-old, but after weeks of dry weather, the conditions should suit other runners, and it is unlikely that Dettori will get to bow out in style.

Aidan O'Brien's Auguste Rodin remains the one to beat at 7/2, while Charlie Appleby's 4/1 Military Order will be expected to run a big race after some consistent performances of late.

bet365 News Team

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