Hats off for Ladies Day at Epsom June 5, 2015 THE SUN came out for Ladies Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse yesterday as 100,000 descended onto the hallowed ground for the first day of this year’s Investec Derby Festival. Among the champers and picnic baskets, a hotly contested battle was taking place for this year’s best dressed lady. The annual prize, this year sponsored by [...]
Qualify springs massive surprise to land Oaks win June 5, 2015 TRAINER Aidan O’Brien’s third string Qualify had punters scratching their heads and bookmakers rubbing their hands when she stormed home at 50/1 under Colm O’Donoghue to land the Investec Oaks by a short head from favourite Legatissimo. The daughter of Fastnet Rock was the complete outsider in the field of 11 and arrived at Epsom [...]
Perfect start for Stoute and Moore June 5, 2015 RACE 1 2.00pm Investec Banking Handicap SIR Michael Stoute knows a thing or two about today’s first race, the Investec Private Banking Handicap, after saddling Conduit to victory in 2008. The son of Dalakhani went on to take the St Leger, King George and back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Turfs in a memorable career that saw him [...]
Experienced Buratino to end stable’s Woodcote wait June 5, 2015 RACE 2 2.35pm Investec Woodcote Stakes NORTH Yorkshire’s most successful trainer, Mark Johnston, is double-handed in today’s Investec Woodcote Stakes. Jockey William Buick will be wearing Sheikh Hamdan’s yellow cap aboard BURATINO, while it’s Adam Kirby who will be in charge of Aleko for the second race on today’s card. Franny Norton didn’t have to [...]
Gosden’s Golden opportunity June 5, 2015 Geoff Lester talks to John Gosden about his Investec Derby hopefuls WHILE Barcelona are lucky enough to have both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for tonight’s Champions League final against Juventus, John Gosden hopes that a few hours earlier at Epsom his own potent striking force, namely Golden Horn and Jack Hobbs, might have what [...]
Dolniya looks every inch an Arc filly June 5, 2015 RACE 3 3.10pm Investec Coronation Cup THE Investec Coronation Cup is a race that Aidan O’Brien has farmed over the past decade, winning it a record seven times. Just like last year, however, when Ballydoyle’s 2013 Derby winner Ruler Of The World suffered a setback, the yard’s Tapestry had to be scratched before the final [...]
Cox can trump Investec Dash rivals with pair of speedballs June 5, 2015 RACE 4 3.45pm Investec Corporate Banking Dash BLINK and you’ll miss it. The Investec Corporate Banking Dash is the fastest five furlong race run anywhere in the world. As soon as the gates open you’ll have less than a minute to enjoy the action. But it’s always packed full of drama and hard luck stories [...]
Jack Hobbs can master all at Epsom June 5, 2015 RACE 5 4.30pm Investec Derby TRAINER Aidan O’Brien saddles three of the 12 runners in this afternoon’s Investec Derby (4.30pm) in an attempt to land the world’s most famous horse race for a record fourth consecutive year. Giovanni Canaletto, Hans Holbein and Kilimanjaro are the chosen three tasked with following in the hoofprints of Camelot [...]
Your indispensable horse-by-horse guide to the 2015 Investec Derby June 5, 2015 Carbon Dating Hasn’t won in four outings or got closer than 12 lengths to a winner. Finished flat last of 11 behind Gleneagles when priced at 150/1 in the Irish Guineas. He’s 250/1 this time and, to be blunt, has no chance, even if the rain stays away. A nice day out for connections but [...]
Cool customer set for Derby Debut June 5, 2015 Robin Hutchison talks to jockey Pat Dobbs ahead of his first ride in the Investec Derby AS THE son of a construction worker from Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Pat Dobbs knows a thing or two about laying good foundations. But after building a successful, if unsung, career over the last 20 years he will finally put [...]