IT’S Epsom Derby week… and without wanting to sound like an old fart, I do wish it was still on a Wednesday afternoon. Bunking off school early when I was a kid to race home to watch the race was part of the tradition. Anyway, Saturday it is, and this year the race has been put back to 4.30pm to try to attract a bigger audience. I don’t quite follow that. Derby preview to follow later this week….There’s already an Epsom Oaks 2015 piece on site. As for this week’s notebook, there has been loads of racing in the past week so here are a few more horses to follow to add to the list..
REX IMPERATOR: David O’Meara is yet to work his magic with the former Stewards Cup winner but he has shown enough in his last two races to suggest there are still races in him. He is now on 85 after being rated 110 two years ago. Next time could be his turn.
FUTOON: Produced a blinding debut behind the Queen’s Ring of Truth at Haydock, pushing her all the way and she looks a shoo-in to win a maiden for Clive Cox.
INTRUDE: Flew home to upset a Gosden hotpot in a routine maiden at Lingfield on the Polytrack and really impressed with the turn of foot that he showed and he looks above average. Interesting to see how the handicapper assesses him.
MUNTADAB: Like Intrude, Muntadab easily won a Lingfield maiden and could not have been much more impressive in the way he travelled and then put the race to bed. It’s fairly unusual for a Stoute three-year-old to win on his seasonal bow so I suspect there is more to come.
ABSOLUTELY SO: Ran a blinder on his reappearance at Haydock and was edged out at level weights by a horse rated 5lb his superior. He should be closely watched wherever Andrew Balding sends him next time although he does need some dig in the ground to be seen to best effect.
REMBRANDT VAN RIJN: Loved the way this fellow picked up and quickened in slowish ground at Chester and he looks the type to run up a sequence for David Lanigan.
DEBRIEF
COVERT LOVE, who was flagged up a couple of weeks ago, was very impressive winning a warm handicap at York at 10/1 on Saturday and looks destined to pick up some black type. Could be a Royal Ascot filly.
Be lucky!
Hi Jason,
You’re not an old fart, just have an appreciation of turf history. Like you, I wish the Derby was still run on the first Wednesday in June. Sadly, I don’t think that will ever happen again. It’s more likely to be put back further and further into the evening, probably after the latest dancing dog rubbish. I have to admit that I am really surprised that it’s not being run during the half time in the Champions League final.
In my opinion any racing hierarchy that thinks it is a good idea to take away the Champion Stakes from Newmarket, the only Group 1 race run over a straight 10 furlongs in the world, and run it in the October mud at Ascot, should be got rid of.
The Champion Stakes day at Newmarket was one of the highlights of the season. Dewhurst Stakes, Challenge Stakes, Champion Stakes, Jockey Club Cup, Cesarewitch. It doesn’t get better than that. Also, never any chance that the meeting would be abandoned because of heavy ground. Newmarket has about the best drainage of any racecourse in the country.
To get over this, of course, Ascot have plans to turn their track into something like a cross between the Eden Centre and a tomato farm. Err, why not return it to Newmarket?
Sorry about this rant, I’d better go and have a cold shower followed by a rub down with the Sporting Life (ok, I know I’m old).
Cheers!
Any daily double mate
Not today pal. Just don’t fancy anything.