The Derby has grown to be almost as predictable in recent seasons. Normally the Curragh race is the next port of call for the winners of the English or French equivalents, and so the field is usually blessed with the presence of an emerging star such as Galileo or Sinndar. The rocket scientists have remained largely undisturbed by punters seeking their advice on the most likely winner in recent times.

This year things look to be working out a little differently though. There is no obvious equine colossus to dominate the field, and although the race looks a little short on quality, it is unusually wide open. Like an international soccer tournament, however, it still teems with small stories, interesting sub-plots and infinite possibilities.

Three raiders travel from England and they are joined by another three from France, among them the German-sired winner of the Italian Derby, which emphasises the global nature of the event.

The English, as always, travel with high hopes, but this year their squad looks to be loaded with a fair share of underachievers. Their main hope, Dragon Dancer, although second in the English Derby, is still a maiden and has yet to win a race, while Best Alibi, from the Michael Stoute stable, came up well short at Epsom.

Classic Punch is the Theo Walcott of the English panel, young and promising but as yet untried in top company.

He could be the most interesting long-term prospect in the race and his colourful trainer, David Elsworth, has more character and personality in his bootlaces than Sven Goran Eriksson has in his whole body. Elsworth, a maker of legends, was responsible for two of the most popular horses in the history of British racing . . .

Desert Orchid and Persian Punch.

Classic Punch is the great Persian Punch's younger brother, and if today marks the beginning of a journey which takes him anywhere near the achievements of his older sibling then it will be a truly notable race for that alone. Persian Punch won 20 races before dying in action aged 11 at Ascot a couple of years ago, and was probably the bravest flat horse for generations. Elsworth has always thought highly of his old champion's little brother.

"He's a young horse with a lot of scope, and although we would like to be furnished with more evidence going into a race such as the Irish Derby, he has similar ability to our other top three-year-olds."

A bit like David Beckham, the main English hope, Dragon Dancer, looks a lot better than he may actually be.

Despite being among the favourites today he is still a maiden, in other words he has yet to win a race of any description, anywhere.

His credentials were only really established by that one run at Epsom where he was caught on the line by Sir Percy, a singular piece of form far above anything else he had ever achieved.

Yet, as the English soccer team know, one unexpected 5-1 win away to Germany does not mean that World Cups are guaranteed to flow in the near future.

The French challenge looks loaded with attacking flair, and if today's race proves to be better in the long term than it does on paper this morning, then the winner will probably come from 'Les Bleus.' Darsi and Gentlewave have already won the French and Italian Derbys, and the other Gallic raider, Best Name, also looks like a colt with plenty of long-term potential.

When Ireland last qualified for the World Cup finals the Derby was won by High Chaparral, appropriately named when you consider that the Cowboys and Indians spent much of that tournament shooting at each other across circled wagons in Saipan.

Then, as is the case today, most of the strength in depth of the home team was coached by Aidan O Brien.

O'Brien, who slightly surprisingly has not won the race since, has picked a three-man midfield anchored by Dylan Thomas with Puerto Rico and Mountain raiding up and down the flanks.

The first time Budweiser sponsored the race it was won by the Aga Khan's Shahrastani, while in Mexico a little genius won the World Cup with the help of the hand of God. Another little genius, Kieran Fallon, who starts a suspension tomorrow for a red card he picked up for a foul at Royal Ascot, has chosen to ride Dylan Thomas.

Dylan Thomas is a tough horse and will certainly not go gently into that good night, but only looks to have the same sort of chance as Dragon Dancer who beat him by a whisker at Epsom when they were second and third to Sir Percy in a blanket finish.

Although the race at Epsom was visually the most exciting renewal for years, the quality was second division. The handicapper rates the winner still a stone below the best form achieved by some of the recent winners of the Irish equivalent such as Monjeu, Galileo and Hurricane Run.

Mountain looks to be ordinary, definitely more Kilbane than Zidane, and in many ways the most interesting of the three Ballydoyle runners is the unexposed Puerto Rico who has won two of his three starts. If he is to play a part today he will need to be better at running than his namesake island is at soccer.

The Puerto Rico team are rated as the 196th best football team on the planet, way behind their illustrious neighbours Trinidad and Tobago, and unlikely to win the World Cup in the near future.

The outcome of today's event seems to be a lot less predictable than that little tournament in Germany. If you fancy a long-priced outsider who goes into the race unfancied, unconsidered and without any obvious form, take a look at JC Hayden's runner, Monsieur Henri. Predictable really.