Straight From The Horses Mouth 2/6/12

Straight From The Horses’ Mouth

Derby Day

Richard Fahey

16:00 Epsom – Mickdaam 33/1

I'd say he definitely has an each-way chance as he's guaranteed to stay, guaranteed to like the ground and he's such a well-balanced horse I imagine he'll handle the idiosyncrasies of Epsom too.

14:05 Epsom - Euxton Hall SP

I presume he's the one they've all got to beat, I just hope he handles the track. You don't know until you try and run there but we feel that he'll handle it well. He was very impressive first time out and the second has won by six lengths at Windsor since.
He did everything really professionally first time but a run always does them good and he'll improve plenty for that. I'm happy with him. He's a cracking horse.

15:15 Epsom - Arctic Feeling 16/1 & Jamesway 14/1
We've got two good draws in the Investec Specialist Bank 'Dash' with Arctic Feeling in 17 and Jamesway next door in 18, it's good to be drawn high in this race.
It's just whether they can hold their position early on - that will dictate how well they will run. You need a lot of luck in this contest, it's not a race I would like to ride in myself!
Jamesway ran a good, solid race first time he just can hang a little bit right-handed so at least he hasn't got far to go to the rail.
If Arctic Feeling can hit the lids he could run a big race too. I just hope the pair of them are quick enough to take advantage of their draws.

17:25 Epsom – Baldemar SP
Baldemar loves Epsom, it's the only place he can win at and the owners are very keen to go down for the Investec Out Of The Ordinary Handicap.
I'm a little bit worried the ground might be a bit too quick for him, but we're happy enough with him. On his best form he could run well but the main thing in his favour is the course. He loves it.

14:35 Haydock - Majestic Myles SP
Majestic Myles runs in the Timeform Jury Stakes and it's a tough little race with Red Jazz, who beat him last time, running again.
He'll come on for that run, though, we thought he'd need it and he ran a bit fresh so he has a chance of reversing the form. He has a good-each-way shout and if all drops well he could get his head in front.
The trip and ground will suit, he ticks all the boxes but it is a competitive little race.

15:30 Musselburgh - Sparkling Portrait SP
He's a horse I love and he's improving the whole time.
He's got top weight here but he's very talented and I think he's a proper horse in the making. I'm expecting him to run a very big race.
I'd say he could win over any trip and he's capable of giving the weight away. He's not a horse that would ever win extravagantly and win by big distances as he's big and raw and backward but I love this guy.
I'd love to see him win as after that he would probably end up a Pattern horse but we'll see. He hasn't done a hard day's work yet, he's only learning his trade.
I was thinking of saving him for Newmarket or Goodwood later in the summer but he's in very good order, this is very good prizemoney and we're keen to run him.
He's talented, could be anything and he's my charity bet this week.

Luca Cumani
14:40 Epsom - Quest For Peace 12/1
The final line up is still unclear at the time of writing but if just two of Monterosso, St Nicholas Abbey or Masked Marvel turn up then  Quest For Peace will have his work cut out to make the frame. He won’t have a problem with the track as he is a very well-balanced horse and (hopefully) the faster ground at Epsom will suit him better than the softish ground at Newmarket last time. His performance will tell us whether we need to drop down in grade or stay at this level going forward, so in effect his performance will go some way to mapping out his campaign for the rest of the season.

16:50 Epsom - Fiery Lad SP
There isn’t much encouragement in his recent form lines for sure, but suffice to say he has looked a completely different animal at home since the weather hotted up and the ground has dried out and he’s been working better than we have ever seen him. A mark of 98 might yet hold him back but he’s a course winner before and if he gets a strongly-run race he could outrun his likely odds.

Brian Meehan
13:40 Haydock – BAYAN
Nearest at finish when third in a Newmarket maiden last time. He should improve on that, but this a competitive maiden for the track.

15:00 Beverley – SMOOTHTALKINRASCAL
Kodiac colt duly built on the promise of his Newbury debut when running away with his next target at Leicester. This looks the ideal oppportunity for more winning experience before making his hoped-for foray in one of the juvenile events at Royal Ascot.

15:15 Epsom – CATFISH 9/1
Four-year-old filly made a great attempt on her comeback after ten months off the track when second in a similarly-competitive field at York. She has shown she can act on an undulating track – won at Goodwood and Leicester last year - and remains in good form at home. Holds a good chance for a share of this valuable prize.

17:05 Beverley – BALLESTEROS
Stops off in this conditions race after five wins in his last seven culminating in an impressive success at Chester. He remains in great form and is the one to beat.

Eve Johnson Houghton

13:35 Epsom - Spoke to Carlo SP
Spoke to Carlo is running on Derby day in a 1m2f handicap, he is  a lovely horse and should give a really good showing for his very enthusiastic owners.  He is named after the maitre d at various racecourses Carlo, who is going to be at Epsom so there will be lots of cheering from all quarters should he get his head in front.

Roger Varian

15:10 Haydock - Shimmering Surf SP

The daughter of Danehill Dancer put up a tremendous effort to chase home Group 1 performer Vita Nova on her seasonal reappearance and she has seemed in good heart at home since.
Roger said: "She ran a really good race behind Vita Nova at Goodwood and she has been in good form since that run.
"A repeat of that effort would see her in with a good chance. Any passing thunderstorms would be a bonus."

14:10 Haydock – Shubaat SP
The son of Monsun won his first race of the season at Mussleburgh but finished down the field in the Chester Cup last time out.
Roger said: "You can put a line through his run at Chester as he was slowly away from the tape start and, despite the fact that he has won on good to soft, I didn't think he was suited by the very heavy going.
"He has freshened up nicely and seems in very good form. We are hopeful of a good run.


Stan Moore
 15:35 Beverley - PURPLE AFFAIR 6/1
PURPLE AFFAIR, who ran a very nice race at Nottingham last time in first time blinkers. He is in the blinkers again on Saturday and was unlucky last time to have been beat as he was gaining with every stride. Another show like that might get his nose in front.

Marcus Tregoning

16:00 Epsom – CAVALEIRO 66/1

Cavaleiro is very well in himself and has pleased in his work since his reapperance in the Derby Trial. He has a great deal to find on his bare form, but the experience of his race and two pieces of work at Lingfield should stand him in good stead

Charlie Hills

14:35 Haydock – Red Jazz 7/4

He has come out his last race well and we are hopeful of a big run


Roger Charlton

15:10 Haydock -  Primevere 13/2
Primevere steps up to a mile and a half for the first time in the Pinnacle Stakes, a Group 3 for older fillies at 3.10pm. It will be interesting to see if she gets the trip and I hope she will run well, but there are plenty of others in the race that you could give a chance to.



16:40 Haydock - Mince 9/4
Mince steps up a grade into Listed company against three year olds and older fillies in the EBF Play Poker with Grosvenor Casinos Stakes (Registered as The Cecil Frail Stakes) at 4.40pm.  She will need to improve again as her current BHA rating of 95 would suggest that she has a length or two to find on the better fillies in the race. She has in fact improved with every race and at home she loves her food and takes her work really well, so there is definitely more to come in the future.