A Matter Of Discipline

Corruption – not the prettiest of words, but a word that has been to the fore in recent weeks with several high profile disciplinary panels sitting and pronouncing.


Their verdicts have been nothing, if not, controversial and have posed more questions than answers.


The biggest anomaly has been the varying punishments handed out.


Trainer Karl Burke has been handed one year disqualification for associating with a disqualified individual. The disciplinary panel verdict makes good reading and one can see, and agree, with their reasoning and the punishment handed out.


Contrast Burkes punishment to that handed down to jockey Fergal Lynch. A jockey who admitted throwing races, in most eyes one of the most heinous crimes in the sport, outside being cruel to horses. Yet he was able to ‘plea bargain’ a, or him, modest fine and a informal agreement not to ride in this country for a year.


Yet he was, until the US authorities intervened, able to continue his career overseas. His “punishment” made an absolute mockery of the disciplinary process. He should have faced a “minimum” worldwide ban from all aspects of racing for five years and when that ban was over still never be able to ride for life.


Paul Struthers who is the BHA’s official spokesman, who must surely have one of the most difficult and unenviable jobs in PR, says the BHA are currently reviewing the penalty structure – and not before time.


However reviewing the structure is one thing, implementing it is another.


Disciplinary hearings are heard by independent panels who, even now, err on the side of extreme caution and frequently come in with punishments below the recommended entry points.


Yes the authorities are in a difficult position.


We are now living in a society where litigation is commonplace and those facing bans which will effectively deprive them of their livelihoods, will fight such decisions in the courts – after all what have they to lose?


The authorities, reluctant to incur costs or attract bad publicity, will then fight shy of legal action and compromise.


Therein lies a vicious circle.


The answer. Review the rules and punishments, ensuring they are fair and the punishment fits the crime. Also ensure the penalties are legally enforceable taking into account relevant legislation.


Ensure there is a fair an open disciplinary process. I am not advocating public hearings but allow a press presence – it can be a single pooled reporter to prevent the hearing becoming some form of freak show – with reporting being on the same basis as criminal cases to protect all parties.


Allow an adequate appeals process.


When due process is complete, if the individual then wants to take legal action it should be challenged and fought all the way by the authorities.


If the process is correct and the punishment deemed appropriate by the authorities then they should have nothing to fear, it should stand up to scrutiny in the courts. By standing up to and contesting such actions it will send out the message the authorities mean business. It will only need one or two failed court actions by corrupt trainers or jockeys for the message to be clearly sent out that corruption will not be tolerated.


In this mornings Racing Post I read the Racecourse Association Chief Executive, Stephen Atkins, is suggesting racecourses should take responsibility for integrity. I have never heard such a half baked suggestion and if that is the sort of suggestion emerging from the racecourses then I despair for the future of the sport.


Integrity is the responsibility of the central authority, in this case the BHA. Having different courses looking after integrity would be farcical.


Atkins has already admitted it could be “more cost-effective” for that read lower priority.


Racecourses already employ Clerks Of Courses and we already know the pressure they come under to race at almost all costs – regardless of the integrity and safety of the course.


Most Clerks will admit, off the record of course, they come under pressure to race when the decisions are borderline. After all it is financially better for the courses to get one race run, thus avoiding the need to refund customers, than to abandon before racing.


Can you imagine a similar scenario with integrity – would a particular course want the stigma of having an iffy race run on their track? Would they turn a blind eye to borderline infringements?

For all its faults I would much rather have integrity controlled, managed and financed centrally.

A Logistical Nightmare

In terms of racing I like to set myself some challenges each year and a regular one is to try and visit every UK racecourse at least once every calendar year.

After all, as I write reviews of courses it is only fair to visit them all as often as possible.

It sounds easy on paper, just over sixty courses works out at just over one and a bit a week.

If only it were that easy.

I have just spent the best part of a week sorting out my racing for the remainder of the year and to fit in the 22 outstanding courses I still have to visit in 2009.

The first priority planning is to put in the “must do’s” i.e. Cheltenham Festival, Derby meeting, Royal Ascot etc.

The second consideration is that Mother Nature will do her utmost to thwart your plans.

In 2008 I failed to reach my goal by one – York, whose August meeting was rained off and, due to drainage work, the latter meetings in 2008 had been transferred elsewhere, so I had no fallback.

So when planning the trips I make sure the first planned trip to a course is not their last scheduled meeting of the year, because if it is called off your plans are stuffed.

What I then try and do is fit in the courses with very few meetings.

Cartmel, for example, has only six meetings a year and it would be a travesty to miss out on a visit there, having said that it has now become a tradition that we go to Cartmel’s opening evening meeting.

The next big problem is the travel logistics – obviously it is a bit silly planning Newcastle one day then Newton Abbot the next.

What I attempt to do with the more “far flung” courses is find dates when nearby courses are racing on consecutive days. For example in May, Newton Abbot had a Tuesday evening meeting and Exeter, a few miles down the road was racing the following afternoon.

This weekend there is racing at Ripon on Saturday and Redcar on Sunday, so another handy double header.

I really thought I had hit the jackpot when I saw there was one day where Hexham had an afternoon meeting and Newcastle had a meeting the very same evening, only to be deflated when I realised it was the same day as the Epsom Derby.

The Scottish tracks throw up their own unique challenges in that not only do I have to slot them into the calendar, I also have to try and find cheap flights which fit in with the race times. Very tricky in the summer when the later race times leave little time to get back to the airport for the last flight of the day.

Indeed it was a Scottish course, Hamilton, that has caused me the most angst in my latter 2009 planning.

Despite my earlier comment about avoiding the final meeting of the season my visits to Hamilton, the last few years, have tended to be to their finale meeting at the end of September.

This year I cannot attend the finale meeting due to a previous commitment, so it was a case of going to one of the others.

Was it simple?

Was it heck!!!

Indeed had I any remaining hair I would have pulled it out. On paper it looked easy – there were eight alternate meetings.

Of those, five were evening meetings, not really practical when you live 340 miles away. Of the three remaining meetings one was only two weeks away and therefore impossible to get any cheap flights or trains and both the others clashed with pre-arranged family events.

Eventually I decided one of the pre-arranged family events would have to be missed – not a popular decision but c’est le vie and at least I managed to book a cheap flight.

Other unforeseen factors can screw the planning as well.

It was just my luck to pick up a dose of ‘flu after Ascot and that resulted in having to miss three visits to courses for the first time in 2009. All of which had to be slotted in on other dates.

Just moving those three days resulted in twelve other race meeting visits having to be switched.

Of course there are occasions when cancellations can work to your advantage.

With the decimation of turf racing in January it meant I managed to get all the all-weather courses done and dusted by the end of January. With the added bonus that I actually, unintentionally, attended what looks like being Great Leighs final meeting.

So when you read the up to date course reviews on my web site (www.ors-racing.co.uk) , or follow the live updates from the track, please spare a though for the behind the scenes traumas that took place in planning the visits.

Must Try Harder

It has not been a particularly good week for racing, with ice cream Gate at Salisbury, the farcical water situation at Worcester and the Nicky Henderson doping enquiry result.

Now we have whinging bookmakers, i.e. Coral, throwing their toys out of the pram complaining the publication of the Henderson verdict overshadowed their sponsorship of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

First of all Simon Clare says, "Not only as the sponsor of the Eclipse, but also as an organisation which has been working really hard with other factions in racing in this re-branding exercise, it was gutting and galling to find that coverage on the day of what was arguably the biggest Flat race in Britain this year was decimated because of information disseminated by the governing body.

"We have got a great relationship with the BHA, and have already had conversations with them about it, and hard to believe though it may be, they do claim that under the current disciplinary system, because it is an independent judicial process, they cannot control the timing."

Then a Coral employee, James Knight, goes onto one of the leading racing forums and actually suggests the BHA should have deliberately delayed publication of the report until the Monday morning after the Eclipse.

What he is, in effect, saying is coverage of a race his organisation have so generously deemed to sponsor is far more important than publishing a report that is central to the integrity of the sport.

It is perhaps unfair to single out Coral for criticism, however the comments of both Clare and Knight underline the arrogance of bookmakers and their perceived self importance within the sport.

It doesn’t help we only have a single industry paper, the Racing Post, and the editorial team are very much in the pocket of the bookmakers and are very loath to criticise them unless they absolutely have to.

As one of the PR representatives of the big bookmakers once said, “the (Racing) Post need our advertising money to survive, they are not going to upset the apple cart.”

Even Paul Struthers the BHA Spokesman said, “We always try and avoid announcing these results ahead of big events.”

Why?

Surely announcing the findings of a hearing which involves the integrity of the sport is far more important than a “big event”.

If publishing the results of enquiries are considered less important than, say The Eclipse, what sort of message does this send out?

Are we seriously supposed to find it acceptable for the issuing of “bad news” to be buried or deferred, so not as to offend the sensibilities of the sponsor of a particular race?

As for Simon Clare’s crocodile tears, would he have made a similar utterance had Saturday’s race been the William Hill Eclipse?

I somehow suspect not, although I also suspect if that were the case then it would be David Hood making similar utterances.

Now bookmakers, for better or worse, have an integral role in our sport, however contrary to what they may think they are not the be all and end all.

Their influence is disproportionate to their actual significance.

Their relationship with the authorities and large sectors of the media is far too cosy, one hopes the Gambling Commission will look at the cosy relationships that exist.

The findings of the Henderson case is very important for the industry. It needs to be discussed both in the racing and wider press.

The findings are also interesting and pose more questions than they answer. The implication is the mis-use of drugs is more widespread than is being admitted.

The role of the vet in this matter is also an area requiring greater investigation.

This is the perfect opportunity for the BHA to grab the nettle and be seen to be making a serious attempt to clean up the sport.

However I am not hopeful.

Jon Ryan, the BHA Director of Communications, speaking of the vets involvement, told the Racing Post, “There will not be a targeting of any yards where Mr Main is the vet.

"The proof in the Henderson case came as a result of a random test.

"Chasing possible skeletons in cupboards would not be beneficial - the proof required for a disciplinary hearing would not be there because you need a positive test to start proceedings."

What absolute rubbish. Yards should be visited at random, records checked and samples taken, if the tests prove negative fine. If they prove positive then the BHA have the evidence to start proceedings.

Comments like Ryan’s throw doubts on the seriousness of the BHA to address the issue head on.

How many more integrity hearings are we going to have to sit through before the BHA stop taking a namby pamby approach and address the issues head on?

Royal Ascot 2059 - A Preview

Some things, of course, have changed little over the years.

We still have the royal procession, even though it is now along the service road to avoid damaging the racing surface.

Queen Diana will miss the procession this year, having just given birth to the new heir, Prince Darren. Her place will be taken by Queen Kate, the Queen Mother.

One thing is for sure and that is the continued domination of the sprinting division by the Americans. This year is the 50th anniversary of the first American victory when Wesley Ward’s, Strike The Tiger became the first American winner at the Royal Meeting.

Now his son Riley is looking to train his tenth consecutive winner of the 4f King’s Stand Stakes. Historically the Kings Stand was a 5f contest before dropping to the proper sprinting distance back in 2017.

It is also hard to believe that earlier this century 30 runners used to contest the race.

Since the introduction of the ultra-polytrack surface all races are now limited to a maximum of 15 runners. Even though the new surface has been in place for over fifteen years, the debate about draw bias continues.

As always a strong challenge is expected from the United States Of Europe.

Ballydoyle trainer Joseph O’Brien, who took over the reigns of the training establishment when his father St Aidan retired, will once again have a strong challenge and will be looking to follow up his successful Southwell Derby meeting, where he trained the first six home in The Derby over the classic mile distance.

Of course one of the highlights of the week remains the Gold Cup, over the marathon, and almost unique, distance of 1m 4f. Although, once again, question marks will be raised about the future of the race as so few horses are able to cope with this ultra long distance and it looks like being a three or four runner contest again.

It is incredible to believe that horses used to be allowed to run over distances as far as 2m 6f on the flat, however the Animal Equality Bill of 2018 abolished such cruel practices, one of the few remaining laws from before the country withdrew from the United States Of Europe.

Once again the BBC will be providing coverage with the first two races being shown on BBC 19 before switching to BBC 23 in all regions except London which will have coverage behind the red button on BBC 22.

BBC Radio may broadcast coverage but are not saying on which station or at what time.

ATR will bring highlights of the races between "Ambulance Chasers Live" and "Chair Lift Special"

A Day At The Races

So many people say to me it must be an easy life being a racing journalist. Well I would be telling lies if I tried to pretend I did not enjoy it. However it is hard work and involves long days.

Here is my diary for Ladies Day at Ascot.

6:28 The alarm goes off and no chance of a lie in today, straight up to finish off the prep for todays racing.

6:50 Receive the latest going reports from the BHA, no change at Ascot, only Ripon has a going change.

Of course today is the opening of Ffos Las, a difficult clash but Ascot just edges it – I am going to make sure I get to their next meeting though.

8:00 Finishing off my racecards for today. Thank goodness there is a field limit of 30 as that just happens to be the number of runners I can just squeeze onto a sheet of A4. There is nothing worse than trying to read a race when all the colours are not to hand on a single page.

The advantage of doing my own racecards is twofold, firstly I can get all the runners on a single A4 page and, as I do the cards I get to see all the runners and have a first shot at learning the colours.

8:25 That’s the racecards printed off and now the dilemma – which way do I go to Ascot.

Usually it is a simple choice, M1, M25, A30 - an hour door to door. But now there are major roadworks on the M25. The alternative is the “back roads” via Aylesbury and Wycombe but that entails battling with the mad Mothers on the school run. A lose-lose choice.

10:15 The back roads route won, but 1¾ hours is no fun.

Normally press parking at Ascot is in car park 2, immediately opposite the main entrance.

I was hopeful when the car park badges came through specifying car park 2F. However I discovered on Tuesday that the “F” stands for far away. Right through car park two and down this steep hill.

They have a golf buggy running a shuttle from the car park to the High Street – on Tuesday I thought it was for wimps. Yesterday and today I used it – carrying a 25lb computer bag up a steep hill is no fun. Yes I admit it - I am a wimp!!

11:00 A quick walk around to test the going – pretty much the same as yesterday. Enough of the relaxing and it is back to serious work as I have to preview Friday’s races.

12:00 It is really hard work doing race previews, especially at such a competitive meeting. I need a break so time for some lunch and probably the only break I will get today.

Having said that lunch is a working lunch as I am finishing off the previews as I eat.

Also never believe what you see on TV – on Ascot TV Rupert Bell is about to hand over to Richard Hoiles in the commentary box for a preview of this afternoons racing. Cut to a cheery Richard Hoiles in the commentary box, even thanking Rupert for the handover – only thing is, he is currently standing about three feet away from me in the bunker.

There is only one topic of conversation here in the media centre – will Yeats win? It is surprising how, even the most cynical of hacks, want to see Yeats win

12:38 Time for another walk around outside and it is filling up now, although it seems quieter than last year.

13:18 I have finally finished the initial prep work for tomorrows racecard, plus adding Saturday’s final entries to the web site.

I can now, finally, concentrate on this afternoons action.

I have been here three hours and haven’t really started on todays stuff.

13:35 It is really odd seeing colleagues you see most days at various courses here in all their finery. Oddest one to see is Luke Harvey – not known for his sartorial elegance – even he looks smart in a topper.

14:15 Have just been upstairs to watch The Queen arrive – there is a rat run from the media centre to the viewing level further up the grandstand – means one can get around and miss the crowds.

There are seventy steps on the stairs and I have worked out I will make at least 40 return trips up them in the course of the week.

The viewing area we have is in the middle of the Royal Enclosure but we are exempt from the Royal Enclosure dress rules and only Ascot could come up with a “path” through the Royal Enclosure which is exempt from the dress code – although I have to admit it does feel odd walking through wearing a lounge suit.

Also every time I go through I pass the door to Sheikh Mohammed’s suite – one of his security entourage stands guard, wearing the full top hat and tails. He is always there whenever I pass – it must be a boring job.

14:27 In place for the opening race. I have a good view down the course and just behind my right shoulder is a nice HDTV. Only eleven runners in the first, although over the straight five, should be one of the easier races of the week to read.

I always try, wherever possible, to view the races through binoculars and I make comments in running as the race progresses. The trouble is the quicker I write the more unreadable my writing becomes.

It was very hard to start but, like most things, it becomes (relatively) easier with practice.

14:49 Well what a controversial start to the day. Plenty of interference from the American horse I wonder how many days Mr Velazquez will pick up for that ride?

Isn’t is amazing how quickly a jockey can go from hero to villain?

The other trouble with a controversial finish is it takes a longer to write up the race report.

Also having watched the replay several times and from several angles I had to change my initial view on the interference.

I thought the interference had cost Monsieur Chevalier the race but now I am of the view he just wasn’t good enough. Radiohead on the other hand did very well to recover from the interference and go on to win the contest.

Anyway the race is written up.

One big difference, which makes covering a big meeting more difficult, is getting information. At most meetings there are usually no more than half a dozen journalists, all in the one press room so we get all the result sheets and stewards enquiries bought through to the press room.

Here with hundreds of journalists and two centres, a fair distance apart, news does not filter down so easily.

15:15 A mad dash but I just manage to get to the parade ring to see the runners in the Ribblesdale then get back up to my vantage point in the stand and see Godolphin finally win a race at last.

At least some additional news to add to the report.

It is then a mad dash to get downstairs to the media centre and take in the press conference as Frankie is always good value for money.

15:30 Frankie was as good as ever and Rupert Bell made sure the press conference was quick, so as not to impinge into the Gold Cup.

So down to the parade ring and, luckily, none of the Gold Cup runners have arrived yet.

Ascot have held them back so all nine enter together, in racecard order – what a brilliant idea.

16:00 Well what can one say – what an emotional race – the roar as Yeats hit the front beats anything at Cheltenham or Aintree.

The roar was unbelievable – so loud it completely drowned out Richard Hoiles commentary.

Up in the press viewing area even the cynics are smiling.

As they walk back Johnny Murtagh is so emotional – kissing everyone – if he is not careful he will fall off the horse.

I stay up on the balcony longer than usual just to see the victors come back down the track and savour the atmosphere.

Back into the media centre to get the first report out – it is hard to find the right superlatives.

Aidan O’Brien is even showing emotion. This is a big story and connections are milking it – who can blame them. They are even keeping The Queen waiting – but I somehow suspect she doesn’t mind – she as much as anyone will appreciate the significance of what has happened.

16:20 Aidan O’Brien is human – he was great in the press conference, I have never known him be so effusive.

After all the Gold Cup follow-up I, and most of the hacks, miss the Britannia.

I have to confess missing the Britannia is a blessing in disguise – with thirty runners on the straight course it is impossible to do any decent report on the race without having to watch numerous re-runs on TV. As it happens it was a tight finish so I settle for giving the bare result and admitting I had not seen the race.

16:45 Right back on track now – The Gold Cup written up. I am sitting next to Matt Doyle of Skybet and he tells me they are offering 5/1 for number five for Yeats – they wouldn’t would they?

Down to see the runners for the Hampton Court then the rat run again upstairs again.

17:10 Well a another controversial finish and a stewards enquiry – I think the winner will keep the race but I think Moore will get a holiday. Only a brief report on the race but the enquiry drags on and delays me getting to the parade ring.

17:30 A 19 runner finale and not having time to get to the parade ring means I will be reading the race blind – ho hum.

Watching the runners in the ring serves two purposes. Firstly it gives you a chance to see their wellbeing and, as important, you can note any physical marking to aid identification. A big white face is a godsend when they are charging towards you – provided there aren’t too many with big white faces – you get the drift though.

17:45 Luckily an uncontroversial race so easy to do the report.

I am having trouble finding out what ban Ryan Moore has picked up but after some investigation I eventually find out he has picked up three days.

18:00 Catching up on the day and tying up loose ends, going through the press releases and RP and Sporting Life sites, just to make sure I have not missed anything important.

18:20 All the remaining hacks have stopped working and are gathered round the TV’s watching the first race from Ffos Las. It looks to be a decent course.

18:33 Finally finished now the drive home.

20:30 Finally get home, traffic was chunky, although nothing like as bad as it will be on Saturday.

Grab some fish and chips just before getting home and have a graze, scanning through the recorded BBC coverage as I eat.

21:00 Update the webs site and check the forums – always good for some controversy.

Now have to finish off racecards for tomorrow. More a matter of tidying them up. Noting any wearing blinkers or cheekpieces (another identification aid). Also highlight fillies – nothing annoys an owner or trainer more than getting the sex of their runner wrong in a report and finally marking any greys.

22:20 Racecards finished and time now to earn some money. Go through Fridays card looking for suitable investments – it hasn’t been a good week so far – but all gamblers are optimists.

23:45 Everything now ready for tomorrow. Just need to print off the racecards and time to hit the sack before we start again tomorrow.

Oaks Preview

High Heeled

Has reasonable form and hails from a stable who know what they are doing.

Was fourth to Sariska in the Musidora and York, her performance being blamed on the firm ground.

However with the going currently Good, Good to Firm in places and with no rain forecast she could be in trouble again at Epsom and is best ignored.

Midday

Runner-up to Debussy in the Blue Riband Trial here in April and she is trained by Henry Cecil, who has won this race eight times.

Her last win was in the Lingfield Oaks Trial which has produced the Oaks winner three times in recent years.

Her three-year-old form is certainly better than last years and she is a contender you would ignore at your peril.

Nashmiah

The most exposed contender who has twice finished behind Rainbow View.

Has had a couple of decent wins this seasons but her limitations are fully exposed.

In addition her stable seem to favour Wadaat and it would be no surprise if Nashmiah skipped Epsom in favour of the Royal meeting.

Oh Goodness Me

Third in the Irish 2000 Guineas on her latest start, running on really well in the heavy going.

There should be no question marks concerning her stamina, however the Irish 1000 Guineas was a weak renewal and the going at Epsom will be completely different.

Others preferred.

Perfect Truth

The only O’Brien contender in the fillies’ classic.

Finally made it to the winners enclosure when beating Phillipina in the Cheshire Oaks, setting a course record in the process.

However the way Phillipina was running on at the end suggests she has the ability to reverse the form and that O’Brien will not be claiming Oaks glory.

Phillipina

Still a maiden but her performance at the end of the Cheshire Oaks was eye catching and good enough to suggest she will reverse the form with a conqueror that day, Perfect Truth.

However she is still a maiden and that does not augur well, especially when considering she is up against some class fillies in this contest.

She is improving but whether she has sufficient improvement to take this one is very much open to question.

Rainbow View

Unbeaten as a two-year-old she went into the 1000 Guineas with high hopes of maintaining her unbeaten record.

In the end she only came home fifth, seemingly lacking pace at a crucial point in the race.

However she was staying on well in enough in the closing stages to suggest she needs further.

Her trainer said the fast ground at Newmarket was against her, even though she has winning form on good to firm as a juvenile.

If she runs to her form of last year she will be a serious contender but you have to take it on trust she is as good.

Sariska

Unexposed, she has done little wrong in her runs to date.Her last outing, taking the Musidora at York, was most impressive, showing a great turn of foot in the closing stages – suggesting a mile and a half is well within her range.

She still has plenty of scope for improvement and her York win underlined her ability to act on both firm and soft surfaces.

The Miniver Rose

The sort of filly who has made quiet progress without setting the world alight.

Was disappointing when fourth in the Pretty Polly at Newmarket before going on to come second in Newbury’s Oaks trial.

Unlikely to win this race she is, however, the sort who could grab a place at a tidy price.

Three Moons

Frankie Dettori’s mount and although she has done little wrong she is another who is outclassed at this level.

A decent short-head second to Midday at Newmarket in September, she went on to score an easy odds-on victory at Folkestone on her seasonal bow.

Second in the Pretty Polly Stakes she led two out and battled on gamely once headed.

The negatives are she looks to be outclassed and there is a suggestion 1¼ miles is her limit.

Tottie

Six and three-quarter lengths third to Midday in the Lingfield Oaks trial, there is nothing at all to suggest she can reverse that form.

One aspect in her favour is she has won at Brighton, which shows she can handle an undulating track like Epsom.

Wadaat

Something of an enigma, the filly is highly thought of by her trainer.Runner-up in the Italian Oaks last time out the run previously she ran an absolute stinker in the Lingfield Oaks Trial.

A run so bad even the trainer cannot offer an explanation.

Too much of a risk to back.

Verdict

It is hard to look beyond Midday and Sariska – but in which order. Difficult to say so I am going to let my heart rule my head and opt for a ninth Cecil win.

1 – Midday
2 – Sariska
3 – The Minerva Rose

Derby Preview

Age Of Aquarius

One of a host of Ballydoyle entries and, it is safe to say, probably not their leading light in the contest.

Began his career on the AW at Dundalk but showed sufficient potential to be entered for the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last season where he came home fourth, a length and a half behind Fame And Glory.

Winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial in May, making the running and running-on having been headed a furlong out.

The Lingfield trial has not been strong in recent years and this year is no exception.

He is entitled to come on for that first run and there is no reason why he could not edge a place.

Black Bear Island

Winner of the Dante Stakes at York and the victory distance of a head does not tell the full story as he was left with a great deal to do in the closing stages and with a better ride could have won the contest much more convincingly.

Being a full brother to the 2002 winner High Chaparral he certainly has the genes to suggest he is capable of taking the Blue Riband.

He is still an improving horse and the extra two furlongs in The Derby should not inconvenience him, especially taking into account the manner in which he was running on in the Dante.

Must have a very real chance.

It looks as though Black Bear Island will be ridden by champion UK jockey Ryan Moore.

Crowded House

An impressive victory in last seasons Racing Post Trophy propelled the Brian Meehan trained colt to the head of the ante-post market over the winter.

However the omens have not been good this season.

He was taken out of the 2000 Guineas and sent directly to York’s Dante where he was, frankly, very disappointing.

He came home a lackluster eighth, showing none of the devastating turn of foot demonstrated as a two-year-old.

The trainer attempted to put a gloss on the performance by suggesting the colt needed the run more than they thought.

However it is hard to get away from the belief that the colt has not trained on.

Debussy

Winner of the Classic Trial here at Epsom he beat Oaks Midday in good style and if she runs well in the Oaks then his price will surely drop for the big one.

However next time out he seemed to have been put in his place in the Chester Vase, coming home third behind two of his rivals today in Golden Sword and Masterofthehorse.

It is said the tight course at Chester was not to his liking and the ground was also too firm.

Well he has proved the course here at Epsom is no problem (he is the only course winner in the field), however it looks as though the ground may go against him.

If the Met Office have completely screwed up and there is plenty of rain before Saturday then he may have an outsiders chance of a place.If, however, it stays dry I would not be surprised if he was taken out.

Fame And Glory

Carries the mantle of being the only unbeaten runner in this year’s renewal.Likely to start favourite he ticks all the right boxes and has the ideal profile of a Derby winner.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien-trained (and with Vincent O’Brien passing away this week what an emotional winner he would be).

He is by Montjeu sire of two winners of this race already, he is a Group 1 winner, and has been an easy winner of the top two Irish trials this season.

If you are looking for negatives then the only glaring one is that stable jockey Johnny Murtagh looks as though he has opted for stablemate Rip Van Winkle, however it would not be the first time a top rider has made the wrong pick.

Also the jockey that is set to take the ride, Seamus Heffernan has ridden the horse before.

Gan Amhras

Trained by last years controversial winning trainer, Jim Bolger, Gan Amhras is also following a similar approach to New Approach.

Third in the 2000 Guineas and coming on to tackle the Derby, the son of Galileo has trained on, showing considerable improvement and looking to be crying out for this longer trip. In the Guineas he was certainly putting in his best work in the closing stages, having apparently been outpaced in the early stages.

He certainly has the scope to come on again and rates a decent each way prospect.

Golden Sword

A shock winner of the Chester Vase where he seemed to be put in the race as a pacemaker and well fancied stablemate Masterofthehorse ran a tactically terrible race.

It is fair to say the result of the Vase was a “one off” and it looks as though Golden Sword is here as a pacemaker again and on this occasion he will not be winning.

Kite Wood

Godolphin’s attempt to win the race in 2009 and it looks destined to be another vain attempt.

Although the winner of Ascot’s Autumn Stakes last season, when trained by Michael Jarvis, he was a very disappointing fifth in the Dante.

Another who looks as though he has not trained on.

Masterofthehorse

Another Ballydoyle contended who is not one of the shining lights.

Controversially beaten by stablemate Golden Sword in the Chester Vase after a terrible ride from his jockey.

However even presuming he had won the Vase it was not a strong renewal and his form to date is not enough to take a Derby.

Montaff

Runner-up to Age Of Aquarius in the Lingfield Derby Trial, the form of that run was certainly an improvement on his two-year-old form.

He will have to improve again to have any chance of being placed in this contest, not an impossibility, but unlikely.

Rip Van WinkleShowed that Johnny Murtagh is perfectly capable of choosing the right horse when he prefered Rip Van Winkle to Mastercraftsman in the 2000 Guineas.

Taking into account his preparation had been interrupted by a bruised foot his fourth was a credible performance and he was certainly doing his best work in the closing stages.

It looks as though Johnny Murtagh is staying loyal to him in the Derby, however there are two big question marks hanging over him.

Will he act on the course and, more importantly, will he get the mile and a half?

Sea The Stars

Looking to be the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to take the Guineas / Derby double.

The half-brother to 2001 Derby winner Galileo beat a high class field in the 2000 Guineas, looking as though a step up in trip is well within his compass, although whether 1¼ or 1½ miles is his optimum trip is the $64,000 question.

South Easter

Very unexposed, only making his debut in April this year, coming second in a maiden at Newbury before going on to take the Dee Stakes at Chester.

This year’s Dee Stakes was not a high quality renewal with a blanket covering the first four home.Probably the biggest unknown in the field.

On what has been seen in public he has little chance, however being the most unexposed he has the greatest potential to improve and spring a major shock.

Verdict

A few weeks ago William Hill were offering 5/4 that there would be an Irish 1-2-3. That looked to be a standout price and it still does.

I can see an O'Brien 1-2, with another Irish raider taking third.

1 Fame And Glory
2 Black Bear Island
3 Gan Amhras