Hello & welcome along to my latest blog this time focusing on Wednesday's Investec Derby Trial Meeting at Epsom Downs. Its the first meeting of the year at the home of The Derby & it has attracted some decent fields throughout the card.
We all know that The Derby Trial is in name only, at least Epsom & Investec are trying to boost it up so that sooner rather than later in will be at least Listed status, the prize money is pretty decent too with £50,000 on offer.
The last winner of the trial to go on to Derby Glory was Blue Peter way back in 1939, in more recent times several winners have gone on to contest the big race including last year's winner Mirsaale who was 8th, Debussy was 8th in '09 (in the Trial he beat Super mare Midday), Curtain Call 10th in '08 (Trial was run at Nottingham), Before You Go 13th in '06, Franklin's Gardens was 14th in '03, Storming Home 5th to Galileo in '01 (SH went onto win 3 Group or Grade 1's at home & in the States) & Daliapour was 2nd to Oath in '99 (he went onto win the following years Coronation Cup Group 1 & Hong Kong Vase Group 1). So the trial can produce Derby runners & decent animals, I have never understood why so few trainers with Derby contenders do not use this trial as how many times do you get
a trial for a big race over the actual course & distance for the world's premier Flat race?? especially as it is such an idiosyncratic racecourse that so many horses do not handle. Epsom in general is an underused course in my eyes anyway, it has always been one of my favourite courses & the racing is extremely exciting.
a trial for a big race over the actual course & distance for the world's premier Flat race?? especially as it is such an idiosyncratic racecourse that so many horses do not handle. Epsom in general is an underused course in my eyes anyway, it has always been one of my favourite courses & the racing is extremely exciting.
This year's trial has attracted a 9 runner field with only 2 of the runners already holding entries in the Blue Riband in June, they are Hartnell & Signposted. Starting with Hartnell who is your typical Mark Johnston long striding front running animal who was last seen finishing 3rd on soft ground in The Group 1 Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud before that he had won The Zetland Stakes by 10 lengths, he brings easily the best form into this race & should make a useful 3 year old stayer.
The other Derby entrant Signposted was a dual winner last season including in his maiden at Epsom, the issue for me is that both his wins were on testing ground, his last run was back on a sounder surface in one of the nig sales races & he was well beaten. On breeding he should stay & his trainer has saddled 2 winners of this race in the last 10 years.
The Red hot John Gosden saddles 2 unexposed sorts in Marzocco & Nonno Giulio; Marzooco is by American Turf Champion Kitten's Joy he won a mile Kempton maiden in October in decent fashion & is entered in The Dante while stablemate Nonno Giulio won a maiden at Capannelle last September when he was trained in Italy, he has since moved to John Gosden & it will be fascinating to see how he gets on.
Arantes is exposed on the AWT at Wolverhampton & was beaten on his last start by Montaly who Hartnell smashed up by 10 lengths last year.
Moontime is a gelding so he will not be winning any Derbies but takes his chance for the boys in blue after winning a decent looking backend Newmarket maiden from recent scorer Munjaz, he will stay all day.
Our Channel has a rating of 85 which looks harsh on his form so far, he has been 2nd at Brighton before so should handle Epsom. He holds no fancy entries & could struggle to get home.
Stars Over The Sea is a stablemate of Hartnell who was well thought of last year but in truth was just ok in his maiden & nursery win, on his last start he was well beaten behind Chief Barker & the ill fated Chriselliam at Haydock. I think 1m2f might be his best trip this year so the full Derby distance may just stretch him.
Trip To Paris represents Ed Dunlop & has a Lingfield AWT maiden win to his name, his last start was behind the previously mentioned Chief Barker in August last year, his dam was a poor maiden & I would not be 100% sure that he would get the trip.
I think its best to stick with the best horse in the shape of Hartnell 5/2 SKYBET who could well end up being overpriced behind Moontime & the John Gosden trained Marzooco.
Two Grand old handicaps are the focus point for the rest of the card, The City & Suburban & The Great Metropolitan Handicap.
The City & Suburban is run over 1m2f, it has been dominated by 4 & 5 year olds over the last 10 years (4 x 4 year olds & 3 x 5 year olds), future Group 1 winner Duncan won in 2009. This year's renewal has attracted 17 runners with the weights headed by recent easy Pontefract scorer Clayton who was 2nd last year of almost a stone lower, for all he won well the other day the weight rise looks enough to stop him.
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Red Avenger (see photo horse on far right) ran with distinction in all the top 3 year old handicaps last season & as a result starts the year on a 9lb higher mark than his last win, now as a 4 year old you would expect him to be stronger so he should be capable of that mark if ready to roll first time out.
Hi There is 7lbs higher than his last win but his regular apprentice jockey's 5lb claim will negate that, I feel the that he need softer ground which he now has but even so I could not fancy him.
Sennockian Star has a big pull in the weights with Clayton after Pontefract but is another to be operating a little bit too high in the handicap.
Kings Warrior did not take to hurdling & its anyones guess which horse will turn up back on the level.
Tres Coronas has 3 thirds to his name over this course & distance including this race in 2012, he is operating well above his last winning mark so I can see him running well without winning.
Soviet Rock was well thought of last season beating Hillstar at Newmarket in early April, his mark has not dropped massively but this may well be his time of year & with not too many miles on the clock he must go close.
Old Resurge is a standing dish on the downs with 4 wins to his names & numerous other good efforts, surprisingly he has never won this race but was 2nd in 2011 from a 2lb higher mark, he is not always ready to roll first time but is respected none the less.
Charles Camoin won the big 3 year old handicap on Derby day 3 years ago & is now back on that mark, he had a pipe opener the other day over 1 mile at Newbury when running well in behind. He looks a real threat despite his poor draw.
Cactus Valley has not really delivered on his promise & this a is a step up on what he has done so far.
Weapon Of Choice is another Epsom winner from the small Kittow stable & has 2 course wins to his name here, he has shaped like he has a real decent pot in him, he beat the useful Benzanno, Aussie Reigns, Cashpoint & Broughton on the downs last September. He may find 1 or 2 too good but is another interesting runner.
Pasakha Boy won the same 3 year old handicap on Derby Day last year that Charles Camoin won 3 years ago, he did not win again until September but resumes this campaign on only a 2lb higher mark, he may well need this first time out.
Ebony Express has improved markedly over the last starting off at a very lowly level but this is a whole new ball game.
Excellent renewal in which I would play Charles Camoin 16/1 BET365 / BETVICTOR over the obvious one Soviet Rock.
The 1m4f Great Metropolitan Handicap has attracted a field of 15 headed by the much improved Semeen who has not been since last July, he looks quite badly handicapped & under top weight is opposable.
In recent years the race has been dominated by unexposed 4 year olds & its an animal of that age group that is next in at the weights a horse who should have improved plenty from 3 - 4, Hughie Morrison's Another Cocktail was 2nd in last year's Derby trial & then went on to contest good quality 3 year old handicaps without ever landing a blow
although he was unlucky at the Royal Meeting. I'm not a huge fan of his mark but he should still be competitive enough from it.
although he was unlucky at the Royal Meeting. I'm not a huge fan of his mark but he should still be competitive enough from it.
Vital Evidence is unexposed after just 7 starts resulting in 2 minor wins, he has shaped better than his mark & is another 4 year old who can be expected to go well especially after a excellent seasonal debut in the Roseberry.
Azrag is a former Bahraini runner who has earned his stiff looking mark from good runs at Wolverhampton at the end of last year, this however is a completely different kettle of fish.
Beacon Lady has a quite fabulous year last time around winning 4 races at Brighton & 1 at Epsom (The Gentleman Anateur Riders Derby), she also won 2 races in 2 days at the Brighton festival. As a result her mark has risen so this is tough first time back.
Bayan Kasirga showed nothing on his seasonal debut after showing generally progressive form last season, if resuming that he can take a hand in this.
Dark Ruler has started the season well although the suspicion is that softer ground is more to his liking so the recent rainfall will help.
Aryal has been busy in the early part of the season already having run with credit 4 times, he is the type who could take to Epsom so is respected despite the rise in class.
Red Runaway never truly progressed last season after opening his season with 2 early success including one over Van Percy at Chester, he ran 6 more times last year to no avail. He regained the winning thread on his first start this year at Lingfield in a fairly uncompetitive race. Back up in grade he should remain competitive from his mark.
Jakey is trained by shrewd local trainer Pat Phelan, he is extremely lightly raced & looked a young horse on the up with a cosy success at Kempton early this year, he has already won around Epsom so is very much respected.
Da Do Run Run has not been since finishing down the field in last seasons Queens Vase at the Royal Meeting,he has been allotted a very attractive handicap mark for a horse of his type, he should stay all day so the main issue is will he find this 1m4f too short. One to watch for later in the season.
Rossetti won the jump jockeys Derby over course & distance last september off 69 last season which highlights how much he has to do here. However he is trained by local man Gary Moore & hes booked a certain Mickael Barzalona so who knows.
Not as high on quality as the City & Suburban but every bit as competitive a race in which the spoils can go to Vital Evidence 15/2 PADDY POWER with Van Percy, Red Runaway & Jakey fighting out minor honours.
@fttfracing
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