The Derby & Irish Derby 2009

Considering connections almost ran Henry in the Derby last year I would be surprised if RVW did not show up at Epsom.
 
Dust has settled a bit and wow this Derby looks like it could be hot. Top of the market horses all looks very solid and dark horses in there yet to emerge. Really a race to look forward to.
 
Yes, looks a mouth watering race. Having finally watched the Ballysax I want Fame and Glory and Crowded House on my side to be honest.
 
Enjoyed the Guineas thread....lets keep this one building up in the same vein. From the Sporting Life:

Johnny Murtagh isn't convinced Rip Van Winkle would stay a mile-and-a-half in the Epsom Derby.
The jockey partnered Aidan O'Brien's charge to finish fourth behind Sea The Stars in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.
Afterwards bookmakers cut the son of Galileo for the Epsom Classic - but Murtagh feels he may be better at shorter trips.
"I am not sure about him staying a mile-and-a-half. He has a lot of speed and a great cruising speed," the jockey told At The Races.
"He ran well on Saturday. Newmarket is not the most straightforward track and I'm not sure he handled it great."


______________________________________

Chester and Lingfield this week with Ballydoyle to have runners in all the trials. I see Redwood entered for Chester as well.
 
Last edited:
By Lee Mottershead2.17PM 4 MAY 2009
EPSOM's long search for a Derby has come to a successful end after the racecourse announced that leading specialist bankingorganisation Investec will back the premier Classic, the Oaks and Coronation Cup until 2013.
More to follow . . .
 
From the RP:

The trainer said: "Rip Van Winkle is a little bit sore on the foot he bruised early last week which is understandable.
"Otherwise, he seems fine. It's very possible, but not definite, that he will go straight to Epsom."
 
By Lee Mottershead2.17PM 4 MAY 2009
EPSOM's long search for a Derby has come to a successful end after the racecourse announced that leading specialist bankingorganisation Investec will back the premier Classic, the Oaks and Coronation Cup until 2013.
More to follow . . .

So a finance investment company thinks its to their advantage to engage in a bit a product association with gambling then? ..... Strange
 
Chester Vase declarations...

Above Average (IRE)Michael Hills
Debussy (IRE)Jimmy Fortune
Golden SwordC. O'Donoghue
Masterofthehorse (IRE)J. Murtagh
Saptapadi (IRE)Ryan Moore
Sight UnseenT. P. Queally
Solo Choice James Doyle
Too Much Trouble
 
Derrinstowns Derby Trial 5 day stage:


53-5 1 Aristocrat (GB) (APO'Brien) - ........... (104)
21-3 2 Black Bear Island (APO'Brien) - ................
821-3 3 Born To Be King (USA) (APO'Brien) (103)
11-1 4 Fame And Glory (GB) (APO'Brien) - . (112)
2-122 5 Fergus McIver (JSBolger) - . ............. (105)
56-44 6 Hail Caesar (APO'Brien) - . ................ (102)
41-0 7 Liszt (APO'Brien) - ............................... (93)
35- 8 Loch Long (TCollins) - ...............................
121-3 9 Mourayan (JMOxx) - . ........................ (111)
056-8 10 Tarankali (JMOxx) - ............................. (90)
22-1 11 Toraidhe (JSBolger) - .......................... (91)
12 Zafisio (RCurtis (in GB)) - . .........................
 
The more I look at the race the sweeter I am getting on Gan Amhras. Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle might get the Derby trip but in no way should they improve for the step up as the Bolger colt should. Stamina laden pedigree through and through which makes his Guineas run all the more commendable.
 
im with you Gal re Gan Amhras, as mentioned on here a while back. backed him over the winter for derby, am also on Native Ruler as per Flames advice.
 
The more I look at the race the sweeter I am getting on Gan Amhras.

Totally. To run that well over a mile first time out with that pedigree was a huge trial for Epsom. Short of Crowded House blitzing them in the Dante next week i`d make Bolger`s colt the likeliest winner of the race. I`ve laid back the initial bets I had on StS and Fame and Glory and will be tonking into this one.
 
Right now I am really focusing on the winner coming from Sea The Stars, Fame And Glory, Gan Amhras, Freemantle and Masterofthehorse. I await the trials with much interest, looks potentially one of the best Derbys in a long time.
 
Native Ruler looks set to take in next Weeks Dante after another impressive gallop in which he saw off Newbury 2nd Father Time and respectable lead horse Imago Mundi in a gallop this morning. The son of Cape Cross still showed signs of inexperience when winning with something to spare at Pontefract, and apart from a highly regarded horse of David Lanigan's he had the majority of his rivals in serious trouble some way out.
He is not a horse that needs to be ridden handy or lead, and he is likely to search for some cover when stepped in class next week. Forecasted rain is more than welcomed by connections and whilst the Derby could end up being a bit too soon for him, he continues to suggest he has bundles of class which should see him progress into a top class 3yo. The Dante should unearth more about him, but he is certainly showing more in his home work than Kite Wood who has failed to impress on his return from the UAE.

Sight Unseen who takes in Chester has also pleased in his work, but has been no match for Father Time suggesting that Native Ruler holds the aces at present, but his claims at Chester could be exposed by the well bred and impressive work horse Saptapadi. Given a bit too much to do in a slowly run affair at Sandown lately Saptapadi made good headway under a tentative Ryan Moore before being eased off in the closing stages. Very impressive in an exercise over the weekend, he looks sure to improve for the step up in trip and connections are keen to get an ideal of how he will handle the sharp bends of Epsom by bringing him to Chester. An attractive colt he has shown enough to home to warrant inclusion in this contest and is likely to give Irish raider Masterofthehorse something to think about this afternoon.

There has been a lot to like about Too Much Trouble's home work in West Ilsley and he becomes another Mick Channon colt who has emerged with credit having won a Conditions race at Catterick in decent style. Previously won by the dual L'arc 2nd Youmzain, Too Much Trouble continues to please at home, but worries for the colt are that Mick Channon doesn't have anything within the same postcode as him and it's hard to see how good he is. Today will tell us plenty more about him, but he has given the impression at home he is more than capable of relishing this step up in class and shouldn't be too far away.
 
Last edited:
Totally. To run that well over a mile first time out with that pedigree was a huge trial for Epsom. Short of Crowded House blitzing them in the Dante next week i`d make Bolger`s colt the likeliest winner of the race. I`ve laid back the initial bets I had on StS and Fame and Glory and will be tonking into this one.

Stop the Press!

Galileo in Focussing on Irish Horses Shocker.
 
Back
Top