All roads lead to the downs, and Derby Day

Unique, and slightly bewildering, Epsom's Derby course will stage one of the world's greatest races next weekend.

Horseshoe-shaped, the world's most famous mile and a half runs uphill from the stalls, is followed by a sweeping downhill bend that culminates in Tattenham corner, and then enters a home straight whose camber to the left has unhinged the action of many a galloping horse. Epsom is a one-off that can also be described as the ultimate test of a horse's ability, agility and mental strength.

Neither Qatar Racing nor Peal Bloodstock has a runner in this year's Investec Derby Blue De Vega was entered, but will not be declared today but they have runners in other key races during the two-day meeting.

On Friday, the feature is the Gr.1 Investec Oaks for fillies, in which Pearl Bloodstock's Diamonds Pour Moi is among 11 entered at the five-day stage. Trained by Ralph Beckett, she won a maiden last year and was recently a close third at Chester behind Somehow, who could also be in the Oaks line up.

Qatar Racing's Arod won last year's Gr.3 Investec Diomed Stakes, and is set to defend the race when it is held once more on Friday, while on Saturday, the support cast for the Derby, the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup, will feature last year's double Group One winner Simple Verse.

A good second in the Gr.2 Dunaden At Overbury Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on her seasonal reappearance, Qatar Racing's star filly could find herself in opposition once again to Bondi Beach.

She finished narrowly in front of him in the Gr.1 St Leger last year, had the race taken from her and handed to him in the stewards' room, but was reinstated as the winner on appeal.

Epsom photograph: Laurence Squire