Today’s best bets, by Chris Cook
I’m stunned to read in today’s Racing Post that the British Horseracing Authority has no concerns about the no-hoper Diore Lia lining up in Saturday’s Derby. The filly’s owner-breeder, Richard Aylward, is determined to run, to the extent that he has moved her in the last week away from a trainer who thought Diore Lia did not belong in the Epsom Classic.
He has said that any prize money she wins will go to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and clearly that is a cause that anyone would be delighted to support. But Derby prize money only goes down to sixth place and, as long as there are seven or more runners, it seems to me that Diore Lia’s chance of getting any are so close to zero as to be indistinguishable from same, what with her having been stuffed in two maiden races so far. Aylward would have done better to save the entry fee and give that to the hospital.
If the Derby were run at Newbury or Newmarket or some other track with masses of room, I’d have no objection to such windmill-tilting. But it’s at twisty, rollercoaster Epsom, where none of the runners want to be more than two spaces off the rail for most of the way. One slow horse can easily get in the way and change the outcome. And of course, if there’s no objection to Diore Lia this year, perhaps there will be two or three like her next year or the year after.
The Derby is not a fun run. It’s a race with a serious purpose, identifying the best of the generation, and while it may not always succeed in that aim, it must be a mistake to allow unnecessary obstacles to be thrown in the way. The BHA should be considering a minimum rating for taking part in the race, in my view, as a means of ensuring that the participants have earned the right to be there.
It’s important for all owners to feel valued by racing and to feel that their charges are offered their shot at glory, their chance to be the centre of attention. But there is a stack of opportunities on other days at other tracks. The Derby, along with the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National, is one of the very last races that should be open to people who just want to take part. It is for players, not gentlemen.
I’m interested to see David Simcock is back among the winners after a terribly slow start to the season. I think the Newmarket man is generally a bit under-rated by the betting market and will be taking a close interest in his runners this week.
Alas, no one has missed the chance of his Turning The Table (2.55) at Windsor, where she’s 11-10 for a four-runner fillies’ handicap. She carries a penalty for an easy win over the course and distance last week, which was a major step up on her previous form. Her main rival, Apres Midi, comes from the Karl Burke yard that is still underperforming, for all that Burke had the National Stakes winner on Thursday, and Apres Midi was beaten in a Bath handicap last time.
Later on the card, King Of Spin (4.40) appeals at 4-1, having won tidily here on his first run for Richard Hughes, which was also his first run since being gelded. He’s won four of his last five handicaps and another 6lb rise looks manageable.
Redcar stages the Zetland Gold Cup, in which King Bolete (3.35) is backable at 15-2. He’s been pacemaking for Postponed in his last couple of starts but, with that one retired, he’s free to be his own horse and I note that he’s two from three in handicaps since joining Roger Varian and being gelded. From what I can gather, the going remains on the quick side after the morning rain and he may be able to make all, despite a rating which is deservedly high.
Parfait (4.25) could be the one at Leicester, in the hope he can build on his mid-April return, when he was fresh as paint, despite having been gelded in the winter. A bit of rain-softened turf might be more his thing than the all-weather, judging by his maiden win at Newbury in October, and John Gosden can surely get something more out of him.
Monday racing tips
Huntingdon
12.30 Oscar Jane 1.00 Ocean Jive 1.30 Caprice D’Anglais 2.00 Kitchapoly 2.35 Dragon De La Tour 3.10 Captainofindustry 3.45 Potterman
Redcar
12.45 Wahoo (nb) 1.15 Silken Moonlight 1.50 State Residence 2.25 Storm Over 3.00 Save The Bees 3.35 King Bolete 4.10 Percy Verence
Windsor
1.45 Rampant Lion 2.20 Eskimo Bay 2.55 Turning The Table (nap) 3.30 Yalawin 4.05 Toulson 4.40 King Of Spin 5.15 Call Me Grumpy 5.50 Jumping Jack
Chelmsford
1.55 Headway 2.30 Pearl Acclaim 3.05 Star Links 3.40 Next Train’s Gone 4.15 Isntshesomething 4.50 Mezzotint 5.25 Artsteelwork
Leicester
2.05 Waves 2.40 Cockney Boy 3.15 Roman De Brut 3.50 Munstead Star 4.25 Parfait 5.00 Indigo Princess 5.35 Percys Princess
Cartmel
2.10 It’s Pandorama 2.45 Louloumills 3.20 Sandymount 3.55 Altruism 4.30 Jovial Joey 5.05 Buachaill Alainn 5.40 Mickey Miller
