1m4f (1m4f6y) Cazoo Derby (In Memory Of Lester Piggott) (Group 1) (No Geldings) (Class 1) (3yo)
It wouldn’t be a 2pts win Derby write up without kicking off with a brag about our record in the race. We’ve won the race three times in the last six years with Harzand (11/1), Wings Of Eagles (40/1) and Masar (20/1), and last year tipped the second Mojo Star each-way at 66/1. An unsettled forecast complicates matters this year but one certainty is it won’t be fast ground – somewhere between good-to-soft and good my best guess, which shouldn’t inconvenience many in the race. Stamina is always the number one consideration in the Derby and, similarly, it’s difficult to rule out many as likely non stayers, though race favourite Desert Crown strides marginally faster than par for a Derby winner, providing a glimmer of hope for those taking him on. It’s worth having a go as Desert Crown does lack experience and he wasn’t the only impressive trial winner – perhaps the romance of Sir Michael Stoute winning a sixth Derby some 40 years since his first has got into the market. I’m having a hard time latching onto anything at bigger prices this year and one I’ve backed is NATIONS PRIDE as I’m struggling to find any holes in his claims. I enjoy Simon Rowlands’s sectional stats on At The Races in the preamble each year and the Godolphin first string ticks all the boxes there. He’s quick, he stays, he’s got Galileo in the pedigree, he’s in fine form and looks a very professional racehorse with a good draw. 7/1 is too big for me. I like to have two in the Derby and with a big field of 17 runners this year I’ll double up at the top of the market with STONE AGE, who has been my number one fancy for this race for some time. I was really taken by his Leopardstown win where he opened up his massive stride and nothing could go with him. He’s going to thrive at 12f, will be tuned to the minute for this race, and if there’s one horse in here I can see proving far too good for this field, it’s him. His form is clear of Piz Badile and he’s the clear number one from Ballydoyle with Ryan Moore in the saddle. I’m not surprised he’s not favourite but I do think he’s entitled to be shorter than 5/1. Nations Pride is the logical choice, but the gut says it’s Stone Age’s Derby.
1pt win Stone Age @5/1, 16:30 Epsom, Saturday
1pt win Nations Pride @7/1, 16:30 Epsom, Saturday