Timeform feel Bonfire will have to improve to get the better of Camelot in the Investec Derby at Epsom.
Andrew Balding's colt achieved a provisional rating with the firm of 121p when beating Ektihaam in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. That leaves him with two pounds to find with the current favourite and QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner.
Handicapper Andrew Mealor said: "Bonfire's two-year-old form had already received a boost prior to the race with French Fifteen's second in the 2000 Guineas, and it was no surprise to see Bonfire step forward again with a very smart effort on just his third career start, the win arguably even more promising considering he was taking on race-fit rivals.
"A rating of 121p puts Bonfire almost on a par with recent Dante winners who went on to either win or run well at Epsom, notably Authorized (123) and Tartan Bearer (122).
"We believe Bonfire has the credentials to go on and run a big race himself in the Derby, his manner of victory firmly suggesting the step up to 1m4f will bring about some more improvement, hence he retains the p on his rating. "However, Camelot is obviously also open to plenty of improvement over a mile and a half given his stamina-laden pedigree, arguably even more so, and he holds a 2lb edge on our ratings at the moment after posting a figure of 123p in the 2000 Guineas."
Timeform Derby weights (weight adjusted): 137p Camelot, 135p Bonfire, 132 Wrote, 131 Parish Hall, 130p Main Sequence, Imperial Monarch
To win the Derby - Betfair bet: 11-10 Camelot, 15-2 Bonfire, 15-1 Main Sequence, 17-1 Imperial Monarch, 19-1 Parish Hall, 35-1 Noble Mission, Ektihaam
