Desert Crown and Stone Age head the market but Saturday’s Classic at Epsom has a field packed with credible winnersThere is a familiar shape to the betting for the Derby at Epsom on Saturday, with the most impressive of the recent trial winners – Desert Crown and Stone Age – heading the market against an extended list of lightly raced opponents with significant scope for improvement on their form to date.It was much the same story in each of the last four seasons, in fact, and all four favourites – Bolshoi Ballet (11-8), Kameko (5-2), Sir Dragonet (11-4) and Saxon Warrior (4-5) – failed even to reach the first three. Continue reading...
Charlie Appleby’s colt has progressed with every run and looks a value each-way alternative to the hot favourite A little over a week ago, a report suggested that Aidan O’Brien could send as many as eight colts to Epsom Downs for Saturday’s Derby. Instead, for the first time since 2004, O’Brien will rely on a single runner – Bolshoi Ballet, the favourite – just as he did two decades ago when Galileo, Bolshoi Ballet’s sire, gave him the first of his record eight victories in the Classic.It could be pointed out that Meath, O’Brien’s only runner 17 years ago, finished last of the 14 runners, was subsequently gelded and then sold to race in Hong Kong. The parallels between Saturday’s...
Serpentine’s runaway win at Epsom on Saturday left some riders with red faces, but William Hill described the result as possibly the greatest ever in the race’s 240-year historyBefore getting too disappointed, frustrated or downright angry about what was surely the strangest Derby, in every way, that any of us will ever witness, it is worth stopping for a moment to recall that, back in April, it was odds-against to be run at all, at Epsom or anywhere else. Now, 240 years after the first running in 1780, the line remains unbroken and the 2017 foal crop has its Derby winner.And, who knows, Serpentine may yet prove to be the best three‑year-old colt of his generation, and not just a...
If Serpentine goes hard enough to make this a true test, Russian Emperor is fancied to make his powerful finish count at EpsomA strong pace looks likely in Saturday’s Derby, since that would seem essential for the chances of Ballydoyle’s two main contenders, Mogul and Russian Emperor. It would also test the stamina of Kameko, the Guineas winner, who has a handy draw and will be very dangerous if they dawdle through the early stages.On the assumption that Serpentine, a staying type, goes hard enough from the front to make this a true test, Russian Emperor (4.55) is fancied to make his powerful finish count. The step up to this distance looks perfect for him and it also helps that...
The strong-finishing Russian Emperor looks the pick in Saturday’s race, while English King is badly drawn in stall oneRegally bred, he’s a son of Galileo, from the family of New Approach and a brother to the Oaks winner, Was. That, along with his name (the Irish national anthem) are the most impressive things about him so far but he showed promise when fourth in a Leopardstown maiden; the first three were then second, third and fourth in the Irish Derby. Finished weakly that day. If that was down to lack of fitness, he could be placed here. A possible pacemaker, though not brilliantly drawn if that is the plan. Related: Talking Horses: Trailblazer Aidan O'Brien on cusp of Derby history...