posted Jun 5, 2008

Youmzain? Don't blame the jockey, this is the ultimate nearly horse. And if you seriously think he would have won the Arc with another jockey, you are deluded. He may very well "nearly" win tommorrow, but if he's first past the post, I'll eat my own @&se.

Getaway is a good thing, an improving 5yold trained by the master. It is shear folly to back against him, the only question any sensible punter should be asking is "at what price does he become a bet?"

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posted Jun 5, 2008

Then you are clearly talking shit if you think that. Just watch the bloody race you fool

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posted Jun 5, 2008

There's a lot of the smelly stuff about!

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posted Jun 5, 2008

Didn't he have seven or eight in it last year? Soldier of Fortune came 5th, and we all know what happened next. Eagle Mountain turned into a decent yardstick, Yellowstone was a top performer, Mahler came 3rd in the Leger, and Admiralofthefleet and Acapulco haven't been disgraced. Archipenko, who finished last, has won a Group 1!

Although, to be fair, I do not believe O'Brien's this year are anywhere near as good as last year. Could well be proved wrong, mind!

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posted Jun 5, 2008

Aidan O'Brien's prospects of winning are better than last year. There is no Authorized this year. He must have something as good as Eagle Mountain was last year. Coolmore didn’t even persevere with trying to get a Group 1 out of him, instead they just sold him.

Yellowstone a top performer. You can’t be serious.

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posted Jun 6, 2008

Is there any truth to the rumour that Aidan O'Brien's Derby runners are to be sponsored by Pedigree Chum?

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posted Jun 6, 2008

its going to be johnny murtagh or frankie dettori that wins

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posted Jun 7, 2008

There is no more exciting race than the Epsom Derby. The unique assault course with its undulating contours making it unique in the demands that it places on thoroughbred racehorses.
After a sttep climb to an altitude of 100 feet, horses make a further rise around the top of the course before hittting the mile marker, at which point they start to encounter the sharp camber of Tattenham Corner. To be in a bad position here is fatal and even more fatal if the horse beneath you starts to give out warning signs that the tank is empty and that you are on a miler rather than a horse who has the stamina to go another half mile, on a track that not only rises uphill on the last furlong but slants forcing those who are on the outside to run a course towards the rails. Class stamina and balance are everything.
This year it is a a very open Derby. However once the race has been run it will be clear that there is only one champion and the pretensions of many to seize the crown will have been exposed like those of countless before them, as having been written on sand.

There has not been a French winner since Empery was ridden to win the 1978 event by Lester Piggott and this year any potential raiders have stayed at home but the Irish are well represented and Aidan O Brien who has won three of the last seven runnings, saddles four.
Defending the crown is a stong home team. Kandahar Run from the once all conquering stable of Henry Cecil would be a popular winner. He will no doubt bring home the bacon in later battles but today will not be his day.
Sir Michael Stoute, a neighbour of Cecil at Newmarket, the headquarters of English racing, saddles no less than three. Stoute like Cecil is no stanger to Epsom Derby having saddled two previous winners in North Light and Kris Kin. Both ridden by the talented and currently banned Kieren Fallon. Stoute knows what is required and all of his team must be taken seriously.
Tartan Bearer is the choice of stable jockey Ryan Moore and was this years winner of the Dante at York. The Dante is a significant pointer to Derby success and was not only won by North Light before going on to epsom victory, but as provided three of the last four winners. He must be respected.
Stable star number two is the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned Tajaweed. He won the Dee stakes at Chester which is one of the Derby trials. He is a likeable colt but may be found wanting in the last few furlongs.
The trio is made up by Dr Freemantle. A winner of the Chester Vase at Chester he has recently been ridden on the gallops by Kieren Fallon. Unlike Tajaweed he has proven that he can stay the distance and he has shown a nice turn of foot. It was however a bunch finish at Chester and Moore has deserted him in favour of riding Tartan Bearer.
There are many who believe that Curtain Call will bring down the house for Luca Cumani. There was alot to like about the way he quickened in a recent Nottingham race over ten furlongs, although it was only athree horse race and therefore difficult to draw tooo many conclusions. His breeding suggests that he will stay. For those of you who are superstitious, Cumani won the Epsom Derby in 1988 and 1998 respectively with Kahaysi and High Rise. Could this be Derby number three?
Frankie Dettori, the housewife's choice and winning jockey of last year rides Rio De La Plata. I will be surprised to see him last the trip.
The Irish have sent over a powerful delegation and I fully expect one of these to steal the crown. Aidan O Brien runs four. this year there is as yet no obvious superstar but any horse declared from this yard but be respected. Washington Irving was seen last year as the stable's prime candidate but he disappointed badly in the Derrinstown Stud Trial al Leopardstown behind Casual Conquest.
Frozen Fire has sound credentials having been a close second to Tartan Bearer in the Dante at York. In form terms this could mean that either that they are both very good or either not so good. He showed signs of sweating up badly prior to his race at york, a trait inherited form his classy sire Montjeu. the Epsom crowd may get to him but he should stay the trip.
Alessandro Volta won the Linfield Trial narrowly beating his stablemate King Of Rome and he did not handle the track. Many feel that this run indicated that he will not be suited by Epsom and the stable jockey Johnny Murtagh has opted for King Of Rome.
The Moyglare Stud run Casual Conquest.Unbeaten in both his races he is a classy contender. He beat Washington Irving by six lengths in the Derrinstown Trial and looked as though he might be something special.
New Approach will hopefully run. You never know! His trainer Jim Bolger has changed his mind several times in a well documented travesty. This should not detract from the horse and his ability. Second in two classics, the Irish 2000 and English 2000 Guineas he seeks to follow the trend set by Grundy and The Minstrel who both ran in the Curragh and Newnmarket classics before landing the Epsom spoils.
Last year's champion juvenile New Approach is the class act. There are many who believe that he will not stay. He will stay and he shall wear the crown. Casual Conquest will follow him home and Alessandro Volta may surprise. Hopefully they will all come home safely.

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posted Jun 7, 2008

Well I do not thin that my summary was far off the mark.

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posted Jun 8, 2008

Perfect Irish.....except....Empery won the Derby in 1976....also New Approach was the first horse to win by half a length since Sharastani beat Dancing Brave by the same margin in 1986...can you imagine if Kevin Manning had performed like Greville Starkey and NOT had sufficient time to catch Tartan Bearer ???

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