our expert’s horse-by-horse verdict for race
Sir Michael Stoute’s impressive Dante winner Desert Crown heads 18 runners for Saturday’s Epsom Derby.
Having just the second run of his life, the Nathaniel Colt came home over three lengths clear of a decent field at York to propel himself to the head of the Derby betting.
Stoute has won the race five times already, including once for Desert Crown’s owner Saeed Suhail with Kris Kin in 2003.
Aidan O’Brien has his typically strong challenge, with Stone Age leading the way.
Rather unheralded at two, he nevertheless finished second in Group One company and has won both his starts this season, including most recently in Leopardstown’s usually informative Derby Trial.
O’Brien’s other runners also bring sound credentials, with Changingoftheguard landing the Chester Vase and Star Of India taking the Dee Stakes. However, O’Brien has with drawn Lingfield Derby Trial winner United Nations and Ivy League.
Charlie Appleby has three contenders, as he did last year when Adayar, seemingly the least fancied of his trio, came out on top.
Nations Pride now appears to be his number one hope after being supplemented at a cost of £75,000. Nahanni and Walk Of Stars are also set to represent Appleby and Godolphin, while Stan Moore has also supplemented rank outsider El Habeeb.
Here is our horse-by-horse guide to the remaining Derby entries…
2
Desert Crown
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Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey
Richard Kingscote
Two wins from two starts. Impressive winner of the Dante, usually the best British trial. He is inexperienced but in Michael Stoute, five times a Derby-winning trainer, he is in the right hands with huge potential to come forward from York. Serving favourite.
3
El Habeeb
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Stan Moore
Jockey
TBC
Once raced when he beat one home at Newmarket. Supplemented at a cost of £75,000 which, in much the same way as giving that sort of money to a cat’s home, is the prerogative of his owner. May not finish last but the biggest shock in Derby/racing history if he were to win. Needs spirit of Foinavon with him.
4
Eydon
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Roger Varian
Jockey
David Egan
There is an old racing saying ‘fourth in the Guineas, wins the Derby.’ If that tickles you look no further. Not guaranteed to get a mile and a half but his dam is by Frankel who is an influence for stamina. If he gets the trip he has the speed. Had the option of the shorter French Derby. Interesting.
5
Glory Daze
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Andy Oliver
Jockey
TBC
Did not set the world on fire at two but may have a good race in him at three but probably not the Derby. Has five and a half lengths to find with Stone Age on trial form. Enough evidence given the way he was staying on over a mile and a quarter to suggest he can narrow the gap over further but beat him? Unlikely. Might outrun odds of 100-1.
6
Grand Alliance
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Charlie Fellowes
Jockey
TBC
Progressive three-year-old who got a spring entry after just failing in the ‘Win and You’re in’ Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April. Has to be a question mark over his stamina though he stays a mile and a quarter. This is a tall order.
7
Hoo Ya Mal
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Andrew Balding
Jockey
TBC
Did not see which way Nations Pride went when they met at Newmarket. Looks like he is making up numbers here.
8
Masekela
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Andrew Balding
Jockey
Jason Watson
Only two-year-old to give Native Trail, champion two-year-old, a fright as a juvenile. Has more than three lengths to find with Eydon on their meeting earlier this season and not guaranteed to get the trip. Unlike to be the first Balding-trained winner since Mill Reef.
9
Nahanni
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Charlie Appleby
Jockey
TBC
Workmanlike winner of the Blue Riband trial. Already proven over Derby trip having won at Leicester by nine lengths beating a horse who has won twice since. Nice profile, by Frankel, not the pick of stable jockey but a nice solid spare ride for someone.
10
Nations Pride
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Charlie Appleby
Jockey
William Buick
Supplemented on Monday. Only beaten once in five starts. Impressive winner of the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket. Seems to have a good mix of ability and experience having also won in Meydan. Stable jockey’s pick but he thing wrong last year.
11
Piz Badile
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Donnacha O’Brien
Jockey
Frankie Dettori
Named after a mountain in the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Won an early trial in Ireland and they have booked Frankie Dettori on the back of it. Solid luck. Trainer is 23 – if he wins he would be youngest by far.
12
Royal Patronage
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Charlie & Mark Johnston
Jockey
TBC
Classy two-year-old who even beat the 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus. Disappointed in Guineas but retrieved the situation when chasing home the favourite, Desert Crown, at York albeit at a respectable distance. Price looks about right.
13
Sonny Liston
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Charles Hills
Jockey
Tom Marquand
Named after a heavyweight world champion who was nicknamed the Big Bear. Looks up against it on all known form. Might improve a bit if (a) he learns to settle and (b) is better for the trip but essentially an outsider with a bit to find with Star of India on their last run.
14
star of india
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Aidan O’Brien
Jockey
TBC
Lightly bred winner of the Dee Stakes, bred for the job. Not the sexiest of O’Brien’s trio but he could take a big step forward from Chester given it was only his third start. It is difficult to rule out any of O’Brien’s horses given his record in the race lately with outsiders. Not the worst thing in the world if you get him in a sweepstakes.
15
Stone Age
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Aidan O’Brien
Jockey
TBC
Was favorite for the race after winning the Leopardstown Derby trial. Likely choice of Ryan Moore. Did not win at two but gained a lot of big race experience and unbeaten in two starts this season. Should stay but not totally guaranteed. Most likely candidate to give Desert Crown something to think about.
16
Walk Of Stars
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Charlie Appleby
Jockey
TBC
Possibly the most talented of the Appleby trio but also the most wayward. Filled same position in Lingfield trial, second, as last year’s winner Adayar. But swerved violently right-handed at the end of the race. Could do anything …from jockey landing on Queen’s lap to winning.
17
Westover
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Ralph Beckett
Jockey
Rob Hornby
May be one of the forgotten horses in the race having won an early season trial at Sandown. Looks sure to improve for the Derby distance, had a spin round the course last week. The way he gallops looks like soft ground would help him. Unknown quantity. Would not be the biggest surprise if he won but has to come on a good bit.
18
West Wind Blows
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Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey
Jack Mitchell
A bit of a dark horse. Apart from Desert Crown, the only unbeaten colt in the field. Wide margin winner of novice race on his only start this season. Still looked a bit green and weak that day. Had a spin round the course last week. Could easily outrun his initial odds of 33-1.
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