As open an edition of the Derby as you could wish to find, with numerous runners holding strong credentials. For what it's worth (probably not much by 4.35 pm) my thoughts are these. Aidan runs six, which suggests to me that he is not overly confident about any of them. His shortest priced runner is Cliffs Of Moher, who wasn't overly impressive when winning the Dee Stakes at Chester. Godolphin's main retained rider William Buick rides the Mark Johnston trained Permian, who won the Dante Stakes at York - normally reckoned to be the best Derby trial outside of the 2,000 Guineas. I take that horse to therefore be ahead of the Godolphin runners in blue. But Permian was himself beaten by Frankie's mount Cracksman over the Epsom course in April. This son of Frankel is unbeaten after just two outings, and could be anything. Frankel's other offspring Eminent impressed when winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, but could finish only sixth when returning for the 2,00 Guineas. I therefore go: 3.5 points Cracksman at 9/2 (general) 1.5 points Permian at 11/1 (general) My stronger fancies elsewhere are Tartini in the 2.00 at Epsom (4/1 Ladbrokes) and Natural in the 2.30 at Doncaster (7/2 Betfred/Tote). Good luck if you're playing.
Daily Star at 25/1 are tipping on the front page of their supplement Douglas Macarthur. Looks like some possible E/W value on the write up. Ladbrokes offer of if you put 20 quid on the 2 o clock race you get a free ten pound bet on the next race looks alright. But it's far from clear cut what will win the first race of the day.
My ideas on that race are as follows, dreamboy: 2.00 Epsom TARTINI This one looks to have been written off following his defeats in the Blue Riband and the Lingfield Derby Trial, but here he drops all the way to Class 2. Surely this must be regarded as a confidence-booster by Big Johnny G, and the colt still holds the King Edward VII and Queen's Vase entries (both Group 2). Elsworth's is also in the Vase, but that looks rather more speculative. I can see a smooth run round and a comfortable victory for Frankie here to get Derby Day off to a good start. Generally available at 4/1, thank you very much!
I think this Hoss is a miler Orsen, in my little Hoss racing book of which I try to keep up to date I wrote for some reason only back this one over a mile won easily over a mile in its 1st win with Robert Tart, as it tends to die away later in the race over longer distances. I had a bad day today backed 2nd in the Darby lost £30.
Couldn't argue with that on today's evidence, UTC. The sire Giant's Causeway did win at 10 furlongs but was best known as a very tenacious miler, as I recall. The dam ran only once over 7 furlongs and never won beyond 6. I was inclined to trust Mr Gosden's view, given that the oss had Group 2 entries over further than today's 10 furlongs, but he found little inside the last two today. I'd worry about his resolution though, because today's race represented a significant class drop. As regards Cliffs Of Moher, I felt Ryan Moore rode the perfect race but just found his stablemate too good. I thought there couldn't be too much between Aidan's for him to be running six in the race, but I couldn't have had the winner. Cracksman ran well, but just didn't find quite enough improvement. My overall view is the the Oaks yesterday was a better edition of that race than the Derby was to day. We shall see! Onwards and upwards with Brametot in the Prix Du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly tomorrow!
I had Cliffs Of Moher in a EW double with a horse from a earlier race. However the other one was a non runner so only made a 15 pence profit
