Dubai: Permian’s rapid rise from handicap status to Epsom Derby contender may have surprised most, but not his trainer Mark Johnston, who believes that the son of Teofilo has earned his place in Britain’s most famous race.

Permian began the year with a narrow defeat in a modest handicap at Bath in the UK before running a blinder to finish a neck second to Cracksman in the Derby Trial two weeks later at Epsom.

On his next start, in a Listed contest at Newmarket, Permian caught everyone’s attention when producing a professional display to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

Then came his victory in the Dante Stakes and he had become a Classic contender for his owner, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

“We started out in a handicap this year and there’s not many Derby horses that do that, but it was a very good handicap and he’s improved since,” said Johnston, during Tuesday’s Breakfast with the Stars event at Epsom.

“Newmarket was a step up and the Dante was another step up. We deserve to be there, and go there with a live chance.”

With just 16 days between the Dante and Derby this year it has been mentioned that the small gap might be a concern for those that ran at York.

But Johnston said emphatically: “Absolutely not, We’re a firm believer in galloping our horses on the racetrack and he won’t gallop again until the Derby. Two and a half weeks is perfect. He’s a very straightforward horse.

“He is absolutely great.

“At the beginning of the year we were not thinking about the Derby for this horse, but I look at the bare form and the horse has answered every question. He deserves to be there.”

Several Derby hopefuls were out to have a look at the unique Surrey track ahead of the 238th running of the Derby on Saturday, June 3.

An interesting runner is the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Diore Lia who will become the first filly to run in the race since Cape Verdi in 1992. She is running for charity and her breeder, Richard Aylward, will donate any winnings to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

John Gosden, who won the Classic two years ago with Golden Horn, sends out third favourite Cracksman.

“I think the mile and a half will be right up his alley,” said Gosden. “We didn’t supplement him for fun in April, Mr Oppenheimer was in the Galapagos and he gave me permission. We put him in at that stage as it is quite expensive.”

One horse that impressed onlookers was the Martyn Mead-trained Eminent, a son of the great Frankel.

“I was absolutely thrilled,” said Meade. “He did exactly what we wanted him to do, it couldn’t have gone any better. It didn’t go according to plan in the Guineas, but I think this is his distance (1m4f).

Latest Odds

Epsom Derby, June 3

Cliffs Of Moher (9/2) Churchill (5) Cracksman (5) Eminent (9) Best Solution (12) Permian (14) Mirage Dancer (16) Yucatan (16) Dubai Thunder (20) Venice Beach (20) Atty Persse (25) Blue Point (25) Capri (25) Crystal Ocean (25) Douglas MacArthur (25) out Rekindling (25) South Seas (25) Waldgeist (25) Wings Of Eagles (25) Auckland (33)

Benbatl (33) Best Of Days (33) Face The Facts (33) Franz Schubert (33) Intern (33) Irishcorrespondent (33) Orderofthegarter (33) Rainbow Legacy (33) Rivet (33) Thunder Snow (33)