All owners should hope for a moment in the sun but the Derby is a race with a serious purpose, not a fun runI’m stunned to read in today’s Racing Post that the British Horseracing Authority has no concerns about the no-hoper Diore Lia lining up in Saturday’s Derby. The filly’s owner-breeder, Richard Aylward, is determined to run, to the extent that he has moved her in the last week away from a trainer who thought Diore Lia did not belong in the Epsom Classic. Related: Aidan O’Brien first to sweep Guineas board as Winter triumphs at Curragh Related: Why gamblers are on a losing streak – and the industry is cashing in | Greg Wood Continue reading...
There could be more to come from Kachy at Tom Dascombe’s local track while at Goodwood, Abdon might get the better of Mount LoganConnections of the speedy, mudloving Quiet Reflection have been pinning their hopes on forecasts of significant rain at Haydock on Saturday morning. But those same forecasts deterred course officials from watering the track and, now that so much less rain seems to be expected, the result will surely be a fast surface at the Merseyside track today. Related: Frankie Dettori gets Derby boost from Khalidi victory at Goodwood Related: Many Clouds rated top staying chaser after poignant Cheltenham win Continue reading...
Will the real Shady please show up at Goodwood today? Plus a 12-1 shot for the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown tonightThe last time I tipped Shady McCoy (2.35), he was a 50-1 shot in a 27-runner race, finishing strongly into fourth. Today in a much smaller field, with the consequent risk of a weaker pace, he’s much shorter at 4-1. Hmmm, going in again in these circumstances is not generally the right thing to do and may indicate that you’re just following a horse over a cliff. Related: Many Clouds rated top staying chaser after poignant Cheltenham win Continue reading...
Realize (4.30) is very well handicapped for his switch from all-weather to turf for the seven-furlong handicap at YarmouthThere are quite a few interesting races scattered around the programme on Wednesday, including the Listed Rothesay Stakes for fillies and mares up at Ayr, but the seven-furlong handicap at Yarmouth could offer the best bet of the day as Realize (4.30) attempts to record his first win on turf since July 2013.Realize has made a name for himself as an all-weather performer, and managed to finish sixth of 12 runners in the All-Weather Sprint Championship on Finals day at Lingfield last month. He is undoubtedly better on artificial surfaces than he is on turf, but his handicap mark reflects that –...
William Haggas’s runner can put paid to a couple of big names with Ryan Moore in the saddle tonightRichard Fahey, fresh from his triumph with Ribchester in Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes on Saturday, is spending some of his reward on petrol money by sending runners far and wide - to Redcar, Carlisle, Leicester and Windsor. Continue reading...