Stable Entries & Cracking Action

     Midnight Magic likely runner Uttoxeter

Today we of course have the Derby from Epsom, just over a month later than would usually be the case.  Aidan O’Brien won the Irish equivalent last week and can he win today’s feature as well? The Derby is off at 4.55pm and Ryan Moore is on board Mogul for the Ballydoyle team.  They are third in the betting at 5/1 with Frankie Dettori on favourite English King and the 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko second best for Oisin Murphy at 4/1.  It looks a mouth-watering contest but for me it is hard to get away from the favourite.

We have the added bonus of the Oaks also to look forward to today.  This race is usually the feature for the girls on the Friday before Derby Day but we have it all rolled into one this year.  This race is at 3.40pm and there are two wonderful fillies heading the betting for the race.  Love is the mount of Ryan Moore and was the impressive winner of the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket while her market rival Frankly Darling was equally as good in winning at Royal Ascot and is the mount of Frankie Dettori.   There isn’t much between them in the betting and I don’t think there will be in the race either.  Love is just edging favouritism and I would probably have to side with her.  It promises to be a fabulous race and no doubt there will be a very deserving winner.

It is actually a super weekend of actions as we then have the Coral Eclipse to look forward to from Sandown tomorrow.  Wonder mare Enable returns to action but faces some stiff opposition from the likes of Ghaiyyath and Japan.  I am a big Enable fan, she is the apple of many people’s eye and I would love to see her win.

On Wednesday jump racing returned at Southwell for the first time since March and all looked to go well which is good.  Unfortunately our runner Jasmin Des Bordes moved into the race stylishly but then retreated as quickly as he had got there!  His breathing still seemed to be causing him an issue and so hopefully a tongue strap may help him next time.

The second jump meeting back is at Uttoxeter on Monday.  David has Le Grand Rocher, Midnight Magic and Dell’Arca entered.  Le Grand Rocher probably does not want the ground too quick so we will have to see what happens on that point but Midnight Magic loves the faster ground and is likely to take his chance in the staying handicap chase.  He did really well when switched to fences last season and won at Wincanton while also finishing runner up three times as well.  He has done well in his break and hopefully there is more improvement to come off a rating of 104.  Dell’Arca holds an entry in the feature handicap chase and the hurdle race.  We are slightly leaning towards the hurdle race at this stage but he will only run if David thinks the ground is safe enough.  He has been a fantastic servant to the yard over the years and was a good third on his latest start at Newbury back in February.  He shows all is usual sparkle at home and he should run well if he runs.

Racing is more local to the yard on Tuesday as we have jumps racing back at Newton Abbot.  Le Grand Rocher has another entry in the novice hurdle while Teaser is likely to run in the 2m4f handicap chase.  A bit further afield on Tuesday we do also have a flat entry at Pontefract.  Lady Reset is entered in the 1m2f handicap but she is also entered over hurdles at Stratford on Wednesday with stablemate I’lletyougonow.  Both are in the mares’ novices’ hurdle which has attracted a big entry but it could divide so hopefully they both may get a run.  I’lleyougonow has had one run over hurdles and should like the track at Stratford while Lady Reset would be making her hurdling debut.  Both have been schooling well at home and will like the quicker ground.

I hope everyone has been enjoying the Looking Back series I have been writing on here, the plan is to make it to 100 horses (we are in the late 80s now!) so there will be a few more to come in the next couple of weeks before we start concentrating on more current goings on.  I have enjoyed writing them and thank you for all the kind comments that have been passed on.  If anyone has any suggestions for horses I may have missed so far please do get in touch and I will try an include them.

Have a good Saturday everyone and enjoy all the top class racing action!