There’s been a lot written and said about the no-hoper and rank outsider Diore Lia running in the Investec Derby at Epsom.

In my view she should not be running. The Derby is about pitching the very best against each other, and she is rated miles behind the rest of the field.

The owners have said they are running the horse for charity, but a better idea would have been to donate all the entry fees to a good cause. I really do believe that her participation makes a mockery of the world’s greatest race and I don’t blame the BHA stepping in to prevent Gina Mangan riding, given she'd only had one winner.

That aside, it should be another wonderful occasion and it looks a wide-open race.

Cliffs Of Moher is the choice of Ryan Moore and that’s good enough for me in terms of which horse is Aidan O’Brien’s number one hope and, given this race is the number one target for Ballydoyle each year, he has to be really feared.

But Permian is the one for me. He may be one of the more exposed in the field but he has done nothing but improve this season and there is nothing to say he cannot continue on this upward curve.

He was only beaten a nostril by the leading Derby fancy Cracksman at Epsom, so has vital experience of the track and should be a lot closer to Cracksman in the betting on that form.

Add to that he has won the premier Derby trial in the Dante, ran all the way to the line that day so looks sure to stay, and is trained by Mark Johnston, whose horses rarely run bad races.

As for me, I reckon I have two decent chances of a winner on the card, starting with Line Of Reason, who lines up in the Investec Corporate Banking "Dash" Handicap.

He got wiped out with a furlong and a half to run at York last weekend and would have been in the money with a clear run. That run will have put him spot on for this.

He has that touch of class, having won at Listed level and is on a good mark given that level of form. The fierce pace and sheer speed of the course will really suit him.

My other ride is Naggers, who runs in the closing Investec Out Of The Ordinary Handicap. I have not ridden an easier winner than him all season at Thirsk a fortnight ago.

He’s been put up 10lb for that, which is hardly surprising, and he is improving with each run. We think he’s an Ayr Gold Cup horse and he looks to have a great chance.

I think and hope Sovereign Debt can do the business in the Investec Diomed Stakes for trainer Ruth Carr and Jimmy Sullivan. Jimmy was an apprentice with Mick Easterby, as I was, and he’s good lad who rides well.

That horse has been a real flagbearer for them this season and there’s no reason why his winning run can’t continue.

Finally, I hope John Egan makes a speedy recovery after what looked a nasty fall at Kempton on Wednesday night. He hopes to be back for Royal Ascot and fingers crossed he makes it back by then.