Given the condensed calendar up to the French, Irish and Epsom Derby’s, by the end of this week we will be only a week away from the Irish Derby, with two weeks to the French and the Epsom Derby’s.
I would suggest that those that ran last week in Ireland, including Vatican City, would be more likely to contest the Irish Derby (with two weeks between races).
That leaves those that AOB has brought over to Ascot this week, being possible Epsom Derby try-outs, including Mogul and Arthur’s Kingdom today, Russian Emperor tomorrow, with Santiago and Nobel Prize on Friday.
Today didn’t seem to give us a definite Ballydoyle number one Derby horse, now it’s the turn of Russian Emperor.
His run last week in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, on the face of it looked a bit disappointing.
However, Overall that Trial race has turned out to produce better Derby hopes among the placed horses than those actually winning it.
Capri came 3rd in it then won the Irish Derby
Sovereign came 3rd in it then won the Irish Derby
Idaho placed in the trial and the Epsom and Irish Derby’s.
So I’m interested that AOB is backing him up 8 days after that trial, in Ascot.
That tells me (if he is a Derby horse) the horse is more likely to be an Epsom horse than an Irish Derby horse, given the extra week’s rest before Epsom.
Now we just have to know if he is good enough.
We find that out tomorrow.
On official ratings he’s already 2nd best tomorrow, even though he has looked a bit green in his last two runs.
He could step forward a lot, and if that happens tomorrow, then the 40/1 for Epsom could look big post-race.