Forget about the Jay Donawas, Tracy Wrights and Brett Forgessons, even the Jane Christies, Lynn Patchetts and Maria Conroy Haydons.

While traditionally the Marathon Derby focus is firmly fixed on the top male and female runners, there's a race within a race which come Monday promises to be as competitive, if not more, than the main event itself.

Bermuda's over-40-year-olds -- in running jargon the "masters'' -- now comprise a division which over the past few years has grown in strength to a point whereby its members regularly upstage their young counterparts.

Such was the case in last weekend's Bermuda Regiment five miler when four of the top six overall came out of the masters division with seventh placed Cal Steede himself just months away from joining the same club.

And several more in the same age bracket, equally as talented, will be out on Monday to prove that in this sport, at least, age is no barrier.

"Rookie'' Ronue Cann, who turned 40 just this year, could be the man to watch, but he knows all too well that the likes of Van Doyling, Jean-Pierre Sylvester and Harry Patchett will be breathing down his neck.

Then there's Vernon Tankard, Jim Butterfield and Andrew Doble who, as with the above mentioned, will all be gunning for a high finish.

Throw in former champion Mike Watson, who like Cann celebrated his 40th this year, and the Derby arguably has its strongest masters division ever which could quite conceivably result in more masters finishers in the top ten than those from the Open category.

None, apart from Watson, are likely to put any heat on Donawa, Wright or Forgesson, but after that trio expect the Golden Oldies to dominate.

Watson, as might be expected, is playing his cards close to his chest, refusing to say whether he'll compete or not.

But judging from the number of people who claim they've seen him out training, there's every indication he will be on the Somerset start line. And if he is, Donawa and co. will have plenty to think about.

Watson likes to consider himself as primarily a track runner, 800 and 1500 metres being his speciality. But it's fact that in Bermuda, where track and field remains a poor relation to road running, Watson has made his name on the roads and in particular, the May 24 Derby. He's proven time and again he has endurance to match his natural leg speed and could well be Monday's dark horse.

Should he decide against running, then the title almost certainly looks to be decided by Donawa, Wright and Forgesson, with Jamal Hart posing a possible threat.

Wright and Forgesson have both won before, and while many believe it's Donawa's year, he's yet to prove he can handle the heat, hills and distance (13.3 miles) as well as his rivals.

With defending champion and record holder Kavin Smith out of the picture -- he says he's taking this year off to work on his house -- Donawa now has the chance to answer some of those questions.

As for the masters, without Watson look for Cann, Tankard and Doyling to lead the chase, but don't count out Sylvester, nor for that matter old warrior Patchett who later this year moves into the vets' division (over 50).

Among the women's masters Jane Christie should be a shoo-in for that title although she'll be more concerned about lifting her second overall victory.

Lynn Patchett, Maria Conroy Haydon and Anna Eatherley are the only other serious contenders for the women's crown, with Patchett probably the slight favourite.

But Christie beat her in a recent 10K, and that form coupled with the fact that both Eatherley and Conroy Haydon are returning to their best, could make the women's race even more exciting than the men's.

DOUBLE TROUBLE -- Former Marathon Derby winners Mike Watson and Jane Christie have both turned 40 but could still pull off an astonishing double by claiming not only the masters divisions but overall victory in Monday's 13.3 mile classic from Somerset to Bernard Park.