This year the Derby had an open look to it with many horses having a decent chance: Curtain Call, Casual Conquest, Frozen Fire, New Approach and Doctor Fremantle being all considered contenders.
As some of the horses began to struggle with the slope heading down towards Tattenham Corner, Tartan Bearer moved past runners and was brought wide coming into the straight.
However, just as he seemed about to take the lead, the horse on his inside, Alessandra Volta, drifted off the rail, bumping Tartan Bearer and carrying him across the track.
Tartan Bearer lost his momentum and Frozen Fire, Alessandra Volta's stablemate, shot past him down the outside to win.
His final start in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the richest race of the season with a million up for grabs, was seen as a straight match between himself and stablemate, The St Leger winner of the previous year, Conduit.
Tartan Bearer was first to make his move from the rear and, similar to Vision d'Etat at Royal Ascot, Conduit tracked him through and passed him half a furlong out.