Betfred Derby Day. One of many nice days in British and certainly world racing is right here. With the worst of the rain seemingly behind us, we’re set to race on floor on the simpler facet of excellent and all is in place for a beautiful day of racing.
The primary occasion of the day is after all the Betfred Derby (4pm) itself. On Thursday, I printed a runner-by-runner information to it that offers my detailed ideas on all of the runners – you could find that right here. There are just a few others races on the cardboard which can be of curiosity and people are those I’ll cowl on this area.
The Coolmore Coronation Cup (2.40pm) has been moved onto Derby day and had its prize cash considerably boosted this yr and all concerned have been rewarded with a severely robust renewal of the race.
It’s removed from a two-horse race, however a lot of the main focus can be on the rematch from final yr’s race the place the Aidan O’Brien-trained JAN BRUEGHEL received the higher of the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Calandagan in an exciting contest.
Since then, Calandagan has gone on to determine himself because the world’s main middle-distance performer by embarking on a exceptional five-race profitable streak on the highest degree that includes a genuinely epic victory within the Japan Cup.
In distinction, Jan Brueghel has been restricted to simply two outings since then, a disappointing effort in a tactically messy renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and a formidable profitable return from an absence at Chester final month.
It’s absolutely comprehensible why Calandagan is the clear favorite for the rematch, however Jan Brueghel did appear to benefit from the distinctive check of this course and distance fairly a bit higher than Calandagan final yr and that might show to be an essential issue this yr.
Jan Brueghel additionally has two robust steady mates within the discipline and Aidan O’Brien may nicely have a plan up his sleeve to maximise Jan Brueghel’s probability. On the costs, he makes extra attraction to me.
The HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap (5.20pm) is only a ridiculously aggressive handicap, however I am eager to have a swing at it with the Ralph Beckett-trained LORD MELBOURNE. The six-year-old would not have significantly engaging current type, however it’s his document over this distinctive course that catches the attention.
He has received two of his three begins at this observe and his reasonable current type has seen him drop to a mark that’s simply 3lb larger than he bolted up off at this observe final September. It would not be in any respect shocking if his connections have had this race on Derby Day in thoughts for him for fairly a while and with a large draw not being an excessive amount of of a fear, he appears to be like to have a really actual probability at an enormous race.
Kevin’s suggestions
2.40 Epsom Downs – Coolmore Coronation Cup
JAN BRUEGHEL (3-1)
4.00 Epsom Downs – Betfred derby
1. BENVENUTO CELLINI
2. Christmas Day
3. James J Braddock
5.20 Epsom Downs – HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap
LORD MELBOURNE (20-1)
