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Something for the Weekend |
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by the Spotter |
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TIME has come to finish sifting through the formbook and listening to
whispers from the gallops because Derby day is tomorrow and a decision has
to be made.
As per usual in the weeks leading up to the Derby the event has had
to face the usual criticism of being below par and not the race it used to
be blah, blah, blah etc.
Whatever you say, the Derby is THE race and this year I’m certain
it will be as thrilling as ever.
The big news that has emerged is that New Approach now runs which
represents a remarkable about face from trainer Jim Bolger.
Now I don’t know the fella but whether the horse is there by his
own choice or outside pressure is the big question and whether this will
affect him on the track.
Furthermore he’s not certain to handle the preliminaries or stay
the trip – I think 1m2f is more his thing – so there are enough
negatives for me to rule him out.
As for the others, well Casual Conquest’s inclusion means that we
won’t have a result of “what ifs” but a horse of his size handling
Epsom? I’m not so sure.
Ballydoyle appear to be going for the “kitchen sink” approach
but none of their contenders stand out.
The camber and undulating nature of the course means you tend to
need a smaller animal capable of going round the course like Sir Percy,
Motivator or The Minstrel and the final one mentioned resembles my
selection Tartan Bearer in
looks if nothing else.
The Ballymacoll Stud-owned colt has made rapid progress from a
Leicester maiden win in April to winning the Dante, the best Derby trial,
at York on his next start.
A full brother to 2001 Derby runner-up Golan the trip should suit
him fine and he’s a much smaller, more compact version which means he
should handle the track.
Apparently the horse often saves a bit for himself so the winning
distances of his races will never be spectacular and his trainer Sir
Michael Stoute is a dab hand at delivering his horses spot on for the big
events.
Lastly it’s worth mentioning that he’s the choice of stable
jockey Ryan Moore.
Before the big event, however, there are several other intriguing
contests including the Listed Woodcote Stakes for the two-year-olds.
Never the hardest race to win it could fall this year to William
Jarvis’s Smokey Storm.
By leading first-season sire One Cool Cat he put up a good
performance when winning on a similar track at Brighton on his penultimate
start before finishing second to one of this year’s leading
juvenile’s, Icesolator, on another up and down track at Goodwood.
Selections – 2.10 Epsom, 9 Smokey Storm 4.00 Epsom, 16 Tartan Bearer |