Three against the Investec Derby field 10 days out from Epsom
Published:
It’s John Gosden’s turn to dominate the Derby betting picture this season, with favourite Golden Horn taking a huge chunk out of the market at 7/4 and 7/1 shot Jack Hobbs bound to improve from his disappointing turn last time out at York.
The Sussex native has only ever taken this Classic once though, and that was back in 1997 with Benny The Dip, so a couple of each-way alternatives must be sought.
Here are three for your consideration…
It says something about Ballydoyle’s strange season so far that Aidan O’Brien’s second-shortest priced Derby challenger is a filly that has been turned over as 5/4 favourite in her last two runs, and is yet to hack up turf on English soil.
That being said, Found would receive 3lbs from the boys if lining up in Surrey, and O’Brien pulled her from the 1,000 Guineas because she wasn’t deemed ready, so if he leaves her in for the Derby you’ll likely get a run for your money. If she doesn’t run, it’s money back.
The last filly to compete in this was Cape Verdi, who finished ninth for trainer Saeed bin Suroor in 1998, having gone off favourite, while the last to win the race Fifinella in 1916.
On the other hand, O’Brien trained the past three winners, and holds five Derby victories in all.
Criquette Head’s Rail Link colt was meant to be going for French Derby equivalent the Prix du Jockey Club this weekend, but France Galop’s refusal to allow horse behavioural expert Nicolas Blondeau to accompany Epicuris to the stalls has forced a rethink.
The four-time 1,000 Guineas-winning trainer believes her boy, who lost his unbeaten record in his fourth run at the start of last month, will handle the crowd and course at Epsom without too much trouble.
French raider Pour Moi took this for Andre Fabre in 2011 when running for the first time outside France, as Epicuris looks set to, and a top price of 25/1 seems big in a race few claim to have a handle on.
Richard Hannon won’t be able to call upon the services of Frankie Dettori at Epsom, with Moheet’s regular jockey destined to go on either Golden Horn or 7/1 shot Jack Hobbs, but that shouldn’t stop punters steaming in each way on the son of 2002 Derby winner High Chaparral.
Moheet finished a creditable eighth under Dettori in the 1,000 Guineas, despite starting slowly and concertinaing all over the place in the closing stages. If he runs in a straight line, 40/1 could look a wild price at Epsom.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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