Murray supports Dallas Star to defy the longshot status in the Derby

Despite his enormous odds, Adrian Murray does not think Dallas Star is a total zero in the Betfred Derby.

Forty-one to one with the sponsors Murray believes he is being undervalued despite winning the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown by a margin of three lengths.

It's possible that his triumph in early April already seems like a long time ago, and that he was an even greater price that day at 50-1 on his first run for Murray since leaving Dominic Ffrench Davis, are contributing factors.

However, for Murray, who had a victory at Royal Ascot with a 150-1 chance Valiant Force the previous year, simply being in the Debry is a dream come true.

“He’s doing very well. The plan after he won the last day was to go straight to Epsom,” he said. “We had never planned to take him to another trial and we’ve been very happy with him since. He’s improving all the time and we’re looking forward to it, we’re hoping for a big run. We probably weren’t expecting that big a run in the Ballysax but you never know with horses from two to three. Some will disappoint you, while some get you more excited, but he’s improved a lot from two to three. We think he’s improved again since the Ballysax. We gave him a racecourse gallop at Naas and we were very happy with him. David Egan will be riding, I would imagine.”

Murray went on: “For me to have a runner in the Derby is unbelievable. I’ve been watching the Derby all my life, so it’s going to be a huge experience. I suppose I’d be happy if it rained. He looked very, very good on heavy ground at Leopardstown and I don’t really know much about him on quicker ground, it was quicker at Naas on Monday but if I had the choice, I would prefer to cut in the ground. I would be expecting that we have an each-way chance, he’s not going there as a no-hoper. We’re very excited about him, he won a recognised trial in good style and he’s come forward from it.”