Epsom racecourse is just down the road as I type this and all I can say is you wouldn't want to be backing any fast-ground horses for Saturday's Derby right now. The rain appears to have been hammering down all night and, though the Downs drain quickly, the chances of the going being on the firm side of good look very remote indeed. This is bad news for doubtful stayers like River Proud, Rio De La Plata and Tajaaweed. It is even bad news for New Approach, despite his preference for a forgiving surface, because he'd have a better chance of getting home if there was less juice in the ground.
But before we get to just about the most intriguing Derby I can remember, we have more bread and butter to get through. And what could be more bread and butter than a mile maiden at Ripon?
Michael Jarvis has a 38% strike-rate with the three-year-olds he has sent to "Yorkshire's garden racecourse" in the last five seasons and Ebn Malk (4.30) looks another likely sort. He ran too free when beaten at Haydock on his reappearance, which was just his second outing, but he is likely to know more this time and ran with enough promise that day to suggest he should be up to winning such a race. Jarvis won this three years ago with Celticello, who was also making his third start.
A move from Keith Reveley to Ronnie Barr appears to have rejuvenated Saluscraggie (5.00), who looked way ahead of the handicapper when winning at Catterick last time. She's available at 10-1 just now, in part because punters are put off by the presence in the saddle of 5lb claimer Danielle McCreery, but she's won on this mare twice from three attempts.
The nap runs in the opener at Folkestone. Mandelieu (6.20) couldn't get the job done in six maiden efforts last year but handicaps may suit this gelding better and he was a close fourth at Newmarket on his reappearance. Off the same mark, he gets his best opportunity so far in a weak race.
2.20pm Live racing
Tony Paley with reports from this afternoon's action
Boylesports help Derby punters out
Apparently Jim Bolger reads everything written about him so he's going to be up all night tonight. Can't add much to the withering criticism of the trainer in the papers today but Racing Post betting editor Paul Kealy called on bookmakers to come to the aid of beleagured Derby punters and Boylesports have responded.
The Irish firm have decided to settle all bets on this year's Derby, placed after 12.00pm on April 21 and up to 11.00am on June 2, without New Approach. So if New Approach wins the Derby and the horse you backed with them finishes second, Boylesports will settle the bet as a winner. Similarly, if New Approach finishes second or third, the firm will payout on the horse that finishes fourth.
Exclusive: Amato prediction revealed
An old Gypsy tradition that has built up around the Epsom Derby is that the name of the winner will mysteriously appear, handwritten in chalk, on a well outside the Amato public house, situated on Chalk Lane in Epsom, days before the big race.
The Amato selections had a terrific run around the turn of the century, and though I can't vouch for how well they've done in recent times I can reveal for what it's worth that this year's selection is the Dermot Weld-trained Casual Conquest.
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