The Derby: Telecaster trainer Hughie Morrison – the late starter aiming for Epsom glory

It is not just the trainer who has experienced a sometimes eventful path to the 240th Derby. On a less dramatic scale, the same applies to Telecaster.

The colt, bred at Meon Valley Stud in Hampshire and possessor of, it can be said, an ‘Epsom pedigree’ – being a son of the 2008 Derby winner New Approach and 2012 Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star – did not make his reserve when offered for sale in Newmarket at a year old.

Under the ownership of Castle Down Racing, headed up by the stud’s managing partner Mark Weinfeld, he went into training with Morrison, although it was 18 months before he was considered ready to race.

As a result an initial Derby entry was cancelled.

Ironically, within a few weeks of that cancellation, Telecaster made a striking debut at Doncaster – when second behind fellow Derby hope Bangkok – before going on to win at Windsor and then, ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy, the historically significant Dante Stakes at York.

So it meant a late-entry fee – £85,000 – had to be stumped up.

“He started picking things up pretty quickly,” said Morrison. “He’s an intelligent horse – if he was thick he wouldn’t be here now.

“Since the Dante, there have been no negatives, and we thought really that we couldn’t not run (at Epsom); both Mark and I are racing purists and therefore the Derby is the ‘Holy Grail’.

“I’m not worried about the course because both parents enjoyed it, and the [mile-and-a-half] distance.

“Every minute of the day there’s a niggle in the back of my mind about something – like the only sixteen-day gap from the Dante – and it might be a disaster, but least we’ve had a go.”

Morrison – like Andrew Balding, trainer of Bangkok – is a supporter of Southampton FC and, after assessing the strength of Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien, says he feels “like a 5-a-side Southampton against Manchester City’s full XI”.

Certainly there is a David-versus-Goliath feel to the 13-horse field with O’Brien, who is seeking a record-equalling seventh success, responsible for seven – all owned and/or bred by the Coolmore racing empire.

The challenge is headed by Chester Vase winner Sir Dragonet, which also had to be supplemented as a late entry, the mount of jockey Ryan Moore.

But also on the plane from County Tipperary are Broome, winner of the Derrinstown Trial, Leopardstown, with trainer’s son Donnacha riding; Anthony Van Dyck (Lingfield Trial) the mount of Seamie Heffernan, while Frankie Dettori takes part in his 24th Derby on board O’Brien’s Circus Maximus, winner of the Dee Stakes at Chester.

Whatever the result, however, it will be a triumph for Coolmore – its ‘super-stallion’ Galileo is closely related to every single runner.