I'll be glad to get this year's Derby over with, because I'm sick of talking about it now! But I'm going to anyway, and the latest betting shows Hawk Wing at a ridiculously skinny 11/8 favourite ahead of his Ballydoyle stablemate High Chaparral, even though stable jockey Michael Kinane has not decided which one to ride, and won't do until later in the week. Although I'm undecided at the moment as to which horse I will back in the race, I much prefer High Chaparral's chances to those of the well fancied 2000 Guineas runner-up. He has had an identical preparation to the last two Derby winners Galileo and
Sinndar, winning the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at
Leopardstown. To my mind though, this High Chaparral was more impressive in winning the Derby trial than either of those two, as he beat a good up-and-coming colt In Times Eye, and carried a big penalty after winning the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last back end.
But he is not a certain choice yet, as I am still keen on the chances of Mark Johnston's supplementary entrant
Bandari, a record thirteen-length winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial last month. He has a superb gallopping style, very nice to watch and is guaranteed to get the mile-and-a-half trip. Also, Lingfield is of course very similar to Epsom in it's undulations so you will not have any worries about him handling Tattenham Corner, which so many won't. You'd be wise to see who gets a lower draw on Thursday before deciding. Frankie Dettori reckons he is just about unbeatable in this weeks Oaks and Derby, with Kazzia and Naheef respectively, but how many times have we heard the outgoing Italian sound so confident only to fall a bit flat, so I will stick with the form book here and ignore the whispers.
What is a shame though is that only eleven horses may line-up for the Derby, with just six trainers represented on the downs. It shows how times are changing, with no Henry Cecil entry and no Michael Stoute runner, yet two extremely well fancied Irish horses, even though they had not won it for decades before their wins in 2000 and 2001. It is however nice to see two capable Northern runners in the line-up, with Bandari and Fight Your Corner put in the field on Saturday at a cost of £90,000 to each of their owners.
As for the Oaks on Friday, my long time fancy Esloob is reportedly well on course for the fillies classic, with odds of around 9/1 still available. The Epsom course officials have started watering the final three fulrongs or so as the forecast rain in the area has not
materialised, they are describing the going there as 'perfect'.
It was the turn of the French to get out their Sunday best and parade their classic hopefuls in the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) at the weekend, and it was certainly not a let down. The Chantilly feature was won in good style by
Sulamani, trained by Pascal Bary and giving him his fourth win in the race. He could be heading now for a potentially mouth-watering clash with some of our chief Derby hopefuls in the Irish Derby at the end of June, having defeated warm favourite Act One as the pair pulled well clear of Mark Johnston's raider Simeon. Sulamani is a half-brother to Dream Well, who actually pulled-off the French/Irish double back in 1998, and this horse will definately hold strong claims if turning up at the Curragh.
A horse not seen out since winning the randombet.com Lincoln Handicap at 33/1 is
Zucchero, trained by David Arbuthnot. Many a punter will remember him for winning the first big betting heat of the Flat season at impossible odds and beating hot favourite Adiemus along the way, and he is on course to reappear at Royal Ascot in the Royal Hunt Cup later this month, I will of course have plenty of info about the Royal meeting to come, so keep an eye out.
Another heading to Ascot after a scintillating display in the Temple Stakes at Sandown over the Jubilee weekend is Henry Candy's sprinter
Kyllachy, and he was mightily impressive there in beating a decent field. He will be aimed at the five furlong King's Stand Stakes and, given a good draw, can announce himself as a top-class speed merchant. It may be a little early for statements like this, but he may present himself as THE five furlong King this side of the pond after that showing, and he will be one to follow for the rest of the season. Meanwhile don't write off Invincible Spirit just yet. He finished fourth behind Kyllachy at Sandown Park, but did not like the flying five furlongs and you should wait for him reappearing over six, he will be a much better animal for it.
Article
by Garry Christie.
Email me with any questions at:-
gg@southportreporter.com
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