BIG-PRICED outsiders have won the Derby before so don't be afraid to snap up the 100-1 on offer with some bookmakers for Unigold (4.00) in this afternoon's £1.47m showpiece at Epsom, writes Colin Woods (Janus).

It might sound like a pipe-dream, but 29 years ago in 1974 the totally unfancied Snow Knight did the business at 50-1, while 1989 runner-up Terimon made the frame at the whopping starting price of 500-1.

And in a year when there is not one single standout horse in the line-up, there are plenty of solid reasons to suggest that if we back him each-way, Unigold will give us a great run for our money.

The immaculately-bred colt was after all thought good enough to contest the 2002 one mile Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot where he finished sixth, just behind a couple of today's main rivals, Magistretti and Norse Dancer.

That duo, neither of whom are proven over the full Derby distance, are best-priced at around 20-1, despite the fact that now they re-oppose over a trip which theoretically will suit Unigold far better.

Unigold showed stamina was his long suit when staying on strongly to capture second spot in the recent mile-and-three-furlong Derby trial at Goodwood, the Listed Predominate Stakes.

Trainer Ed Dunlop has sensibly kept tight-lipped in the run up to the race, leaving all the hype to surround Aidan O'Brien, who fields no less than four runners in his bid to win the Classic for an unprecedented third year in succession.

* British bookmakers are bracing themselves for record-breaking betting levels today and predict that over £100m will be wagered across the nation's betting shop counters on Derby day.

''This will be the biggest and the best Derby ever in terms of betting,'' said Coral spokesman Simon Clare.

''With a high-class field of 20 runners and no World Cup to compete with, the eyes of the nation will be on Epsom.''

A victory for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Brian Boru, who could start favourite, will cost British bookmakers a multi-million pound pay-out.

This would follow hot on the heels of a disastrous Cheltenham Festival for the turf accountants, when nearly all the big races were won by well-backed runners.

O'Brien has won the last two Derbys with Galileo and High Chaparral.

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