Derby Day at Epsom

There are now Derby races all over the world, and there are many more valuable races than the one run this afternoon at 17.00 CET at Epsom, but this is still the original race, the real thing and the most celebrated classic race in the world of thoroughbred racing. The race seems more open than ever this year, and it is not at all clear who will start favourite. Following yesterday´s win by a 33-1 shot in The Oaks, another upset is on the cards, as there are quesion marks over several of the leading contenders, most obviously New Approach (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) the top-rated runner and the clear from choice after running second in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. However he has never run further than a mile and has had two very hard races, while the decision by Bolger to run here, announced only 5 days ago, came as a huge surprise. Another Irish runner, Casual Conquest (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) was one of 3 supplemented fof 75,000 pounds earlier in the week (one of the owners as already lost his money, as Paul Cole´s River Proud is lame and will miss the race) and was an impressive winner last time at Leopardstown in a race that has always been a good guide to the Derby. He is the only unbeaten horse in the race, but has only run twice, and lack of experience could prove a disadvantage. The other reliable trial has always been York´s Dante Stakes, won narrowly this year by Tartan Bearer (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) from Aidan O´Brien´s Frozen Fire (Mick Kinane), who however has ben rejected by stable jockey Johnny Murtagh in favour of King of Rome from the 5 O´Brien runners. However logically Frozen Fire, whose dam was German-bred, is the O´Brien stable selected and boith he and Tartan Bearer, a brother to Golan, runner-up here and winner of the King George, should play a leading role, especially in view of their trainers´ excellent Derby records. Stoute´s other runners Tajaweed (Richard Hills) and Doctor Fremantle (Kerrin McEvoy), who was also supplemented, both won well at Chester last time and are also to be considered. There are stamina doubts about Godolphin´s Rio de la Plata (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) and Gestüt Ammerland´s Kandahar Run (Henry Cecil/ Ted Dutrcan), while Curtain Call (Luca Cumani/ Jamie Spencer) was transfrred in the winetr from Jessica Harrington´s Irish stable specifically to win this race. He was an easy winner of a minor event at Nottingham on his only start for Cumani, but missed his main trial, but the vibes are positive. The field of 16 includes at least 10 possible winners, our very tentative three asgainst the field are: Tartan Bearer, Casual Conquest and Frozen Fire.