Talking Horses: big week for young trainers aiming stars at the Derby


Ed Walker and Charlie Fellowes appear to have serious Derby hopes for the first time but this week will put both to the test

It’s a huge week for two of the younger, up-and-coming British trainers hoping to find themselves with the first credible Derby contenders of their short careers. Ed Walker will run Cap Francais in the Lingfield Derby Trial on Saturday while Wednesday’s Chester Vase is the big occasion for Charlie Fellowes and his King Ottokar.

Fellowes recently bought Luca Cumani’s stable but has decided to delay moving his string there out of respect for King Ottokar’s chance in the Epsom Classic. “If we are gonna go for the Derby, the last thing I really want to do is change yards, move everything and upset his whole routine in the month leading into it,” Fellowes told me on Monday night. “So we’ll see how he runs on Wednesday and if we end up going for the Derby, we might even leave it until after Royal Ascot to move the horses over.

Related: O’Brien set to switch Derby second favourite Japan to Leopardstown

Wetherby 1.50 Stone Mason 2.20 Franz Kafka 2.50 Be More 3.20 Manshood 3.55 Zodiakos 4.25 Artistic Rifles 4.55 Moon King 5.25 Mr Coco Bean 

Continue reading...