English and French Derby this weekend

With today´s cards (Thursday) looking very uninteresting, we shall have a quick look at the major races coming up this weekend, in particular the Derby meeting at Epsom on Friday and Saturday and the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday. The two big races on Friday at Epsom are the Coronation Cup at 15.45 CET and the Oaks at 17.05. Both races are run over 1 1/2 miles, the former event - which has cut up badly with only 5 runners- for older horses and the Oaks of course for 3yo fillies. Godolphin´s Blue Bunting (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori) is clear favourite for the Oaks following her convincing win the 1,000 Guineas, where she finished very strongly and this trip should be more suitable. Aidan O´Brien saddles 3 runners here - Misty for Me (Seamus Heffernan), Why (Mikel Barzalona) and Wonder of Wonders (Kieren Fallon); although Misty for Me won the Irish 1,000, clear preference here is for Cheshire Oaks winner Wonder of Wonders, who is certainly the best-bred fi lly in the field. Others with chances are Beatrice Aurore (John Dunlop/ Ted Durcan) - owned by ABBA singer Benny Andersson- and the only unbeaten filly Zain al Boldan (Mick Channon/ Sam Hitchcott). If it rains (unlikely) then Havant (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) would also make the short list.

Stoute and Moore are also the team of the Queen´s Carlton House in Saturday´s Derby at 17.00. Until 2 days ago, Carlton House was hot favourite to give his owner her first Derby winner, but the news of a setback earlier in the week has thrown the betting market into total confusion. It is not even certain that he will run- a final decision is expected tomorrow (Friday). The two most heavily backed now are Pour Moi (Andre Fabre/ Barzalona) and Recital (O´ Brien/ Fallon), alrthough the trainer saddles 3 more runners here, of whom Seville (Christophe Soumillon) also has a big chance. The other French challenger Vadamar (Alain de Royer-Dupre/ Christophe Lemaire), owned by the Aga Khan, is fancied to reverse earlier placings with Pour Moi, so there are plenty of possibilities here, but we hope that Carlton House runs and wins.

Sunday´s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly is the French equivalent of the Derby, even though it is now run over the much shorter distance of 2100 metres. Several of those with hopes of winning at Epsom have another chance here, for example Godolphin with Casamento and Grand Vent (from their French stable), the Aga Khan with Baraan and Aidan O´Brien with Roderic O´Connor; the latter stayed on well when winning the Irish 2,000 under the trainer´s son Joseph and will now be partnered by Ryan Moore. The undercard here is extremely strong with 4 more group races. Note should be made of the Aga Khan´s Bekhabad, beaten favourite in the 2010 Arc, who makes his seasonal debut in the Grand Prix de Chantilly.