The Tote Placepot on Derby Day concludes with the big one, but there's  fine supporting card to navigate before we get to the £1.5 million feature. I've got a perm consisting of 32 lnes to consider.

Andrew Balding has a fine recent record in this race, winning three of the last six renewals and his sole runner this year is the progressive Portsmouth.

The son of Gleneagles took four attempts to get his head in front but did so in good style when winning over an extended mile here on handicap debut in April. We know he will therefore have no issues with the track and has since followed that up with another good effort at a similar turning track at Goodwood in early-May. The form of that particular race looks strong, with the third and fourth winning subsequently, and I'm expecting him to put up another bold showing once again.

Another who boasts winning course form is Golden West and he is worth a chancing on handicap debut. He won here on second start to remain unbeaten back in October but has been disappointing in two starts so far this year. Both of those came in Group 3 events in Derby trials and he is likely to find this much easier from a mark of 91.

: Selections: Royal Dress & Astral Beau

Running Lion is a worthy favourite here and would've hit a short price in-running at Newmarket last time out as she sprinted clear, only to paddle late on and fade into second position. She's going to be tough to beat dropping in trip but has been an in-and-out performer throughout her career and cannot be fully trusted.

Instead, I'd take two at bigger prices, starting with Royal Dress who produced a clear career-best when winning a Listed event at Goodwood on seasonal reappearance. Again, there are similarities at Goodwood to the layout here, so that's a positive, and she was good value for the victory there and beat some nice fillies in the process, including the re-opposing Breege, who has no real reason to overturn that form.

I think Astral Beaucould also be overlooked here. She was third in this race last season but has improved since then, evidenced by an excellent second behind Charyn on seasonal reappearance at Doncaster. Rated 104, she is one of the highest-rated in the line-up and should be thereabouts in this year's renewal.

A trappy affair for leg three, which includes the 1-2 from last year's race, Regal Reality and Highland Avenue.

The pair have been grand performers throughout their respective careers and are sure to give their running once again but look vulnerable to an improver and I've always thought there is more to come from Embesto.

A progressive three-year-old in 2023, he won three of his five starts and rounded off his campaign with a solid fourth in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein in September. He was far too fresh and frankly a little disappointing, when only fifth on reappearance in the Earl Of Sefton in April but that'll have blown away the cobwebs and I'm expecting a much better performance here in a first-time hood.

Thing get fast and furious in legs four and five with each respective running of the "Dash" and we start with the three-year-old event.

There's only one way of going with Grandlad and that's fast. He's made all of the running in his last two races, in which he was successful, but he is sure to be challenged for that honour by several other speedy types here. He only went up 3lb for his most recent success and looks to have more to offer from a perch of 80. I like his draw in stall 11 and this would be a big success for his fledgling trainer James Horton.

I'm very happy have another dart here and Sturlasson could kick on now that he's shed the maiden tag. The gelding took seven attempts to get off the mark but did so in fine style when making all at Navan a few weeks ago. He'd been unlucky to bump into some useful horses as a juvenile but is sure to find life easier in handicaps this term. Again, he's drawn well in stall 17, the booking of Oisin Murphy is also a positive.

: Selections: Democracy Dilemma & Alligator Alley

The "Dash" itself is next up and I'm clear on my main selection here with Democracy Dilemma fancied to continue on his recent upward trajectory. 

The four-year-old was a narrow winner at Chester a few weeks ago and was inches away from following up last week at Windsor, having been passed in the final strides to finish second. The gelding is clearly in top form at present and ran an eye-catching race from a low draw in the preceding three-year-old contest 12 months ago; breaking from stall 1, he made good ground from the centre of the track but just faded close home into fifth position. He has a better draw in stall 8 this year and is primed to run a big race.

A chance is then taken on Alligator Alley with the seven-year-old poised to strike from a sliding handicap mark. The gelding was hampered when finishing mid-division in this last year but returns from an 8lb lower mark, 3lb than his last winning rating. A recent run at York, his first turf start of the season, should put him cherry ripe for this and he could be one to outrun his odds at bigger prices.

: Selections: Ancient Wisdom & Dancing Gemini

The Betfred Derby is a fitting finale and much will depend on City Of Troy. For all the Justify colt was bitterly disappointing in the 2000 Guineas, he is sure to be popular among punters and is likely to off as race favourite. It was a deplorable effort at Newmarket, though, and he just cannot be trusted or included here, with my expectation of another blowout form Aidan O'Brien's star colt.

My main fancy is Ancient Wisdom. A Group 1 winner on desperate ground at the backend of 2023, he clearly prefers some ease underfoot and the rainfall over the last week or so has definitely been in his favour, and any further showers will further enhance his chances. Admittedly, he was quite underwhelming when second in the Dante Stakes at York but he was keen in the early stages on quicker-than-ideal ground and plugged on well for minor honours. That'll bring him on nicely and is sure to improve further for this step up to a mile-and-a-half. 

I have stamina concerns for Dancing Gemini but he's a classy sort as evidenced by his excellent second in the French Guineas. He's going to have the tactical speed to take up an ideal racing position in the early stages here under first-time Derby rider Dyland Browne McMonagle, it's just a case of whether he can see out the trip at the business end of the race. At a bigger price, I think he's worth adding to the staking plan.