All the talking and preparation is over. We’ve all had our say about the structure of the Derby. I now just want to get on with it. I have 20 entries this year and hope to get a decent number into the latter stages.
Domino Storm is our first runner (ht 5) on Wednesday and it must be one of the toughest half dozen heats of the entire first round. Having said that, I have seen her quoted at 10-1, which is bordering on insulting. She was 10-15 spots short of what I was hoping in her trial, but quite a few of our runners didn’t trial brilliantly. But I’m never too bothered about trials. It is tough, but I still think she can qualify
Van Frankie goes in heat seven. It was a late decision to enter him. His big problem is his trapping. He is not consistent but has reasonable form over 575 at Romford.
Thursday is a busy night starting with Vanmaestro in heat 13. He is a big dog who has not had many races for his age. He will need to improve on his form to date, but could go a round or two.
We have two runners in heat 15 and I would expect them both to get through. Blackstone Marco is deliberately being brought into the event fresh. Although he wants further, he has sub 28.00 on his card at Monmore. Everybody knows about Blue Moment. He has been beaten in his last two races and was not impressive in his trials, but a few months ago, he looked a live outsider to win the event. I would still expect him to win his heat. Next up is Adageo Bob. He is getting on a bit now and it will be his last Derby. We know he hasn’t lost much of his ability, based on the Romford form, but I have deliberately kept him fresh for this competition because after two or three races, the stamina side seems to kick in more. I think he would do 28.50 in a solo, but I doubt he will get that chance against five other dogs. Aero Nemesis is well drawn in heat 18 but he checked out of the traps in his trial where he finished sore on a leg muscle. We think we have sorted it out, but it is a tough heat with a lot of early pace. Last on Thursday (ht 22) is Roswell De Niro is another nice Towcester based dog. He has won his share of top heats. He is in a tough qualifier, and probably has a ‘puncher’s chance’.
Vanbasten gets our runners underway on Friday night (ht 24). He missed the Arc after picking up a muscle injury. He badly needed that comeback trial and will have come on a few lengths because of it but it has come a bit soon for him. Evanta Fantasy (ht 25) looks like a live outsider though her best trip is really around 450m and if she doesn’t make it through we will be targeting the big race at Sunderland. We should really have guarded Evanta Evita and Swift Whirlwind who are both in heat 31. Evan Herbert owns one outright and has shares in the other, and sods law they were due to meet. Fantasy is one of my favourite ever bitches and I am convinced she is the bitch who will progress furthest in the Derby. Swift Whirlwind is probably the kennel’s second string in the competition; a cracking young dog and I will be gutted if both don’t through. Ideally, I would like to see Evita lead up with Whirlwind following her found and the likes of Farley Rio not too close.
Ballymac Sinbad (ht 32) is a nice young dog, but is a bit backward. He is likely to improve in the coming weeks and months, but it is a very tough ask in this heat.
We have another seven out on Saturday starting with Aero Babooshka in heat 38. There are probably 100 dogs in the competition capable of between 28.50 and 28.65 and Babooshka is one of them. We will try to take this opportunity with her to win a heat. Blonde Razor (ht 42) is getting on a bit now and grey as a badger bur ran a cracker in his trial (28.67). He likes Wimbledon and if he pings, the Droopys Ward people won’t appreciate having to get past him. Swift Turbo (ht 43) is a nice young dog who has ben running at Towcester; his connections are mainly horse racing people including Johnjo O’Neill. Realistically, he is an ‘owner entry’. My number one string is Blonde Nipper (ht 44) who has been put aside for this competition. Not everything has gone to plan; we ran him at Swindon which is a mistake because of his running style. He is like poetry in motion and ran a stunning trial (28.43). His Achiles Heel is that he has ‘good’ rather than ‘blistering’ early pace but I doubt there is a faster dog in the event from second bend to winning line. I expect him to peak in the next three/four weeks. If you are looking for a big priced outsider to give you a run through the competition, then Reel Shirty (Ht 46) at 500-1 could be for you. He is a far better dog than his card shows. Don’t forget we had Adageo reach the final as a 1,000-1 chance. Nothing has gone right for Do It For Twiggy this year. He was a cracking dog last year but illness and injury have seen him struggle. Besides, he really wants 550-575m. Given all the above, and the fact he is taking on the Derby favourite and Coolemore Joe, he is probably best described an another ‘owner entry’. Finally, we have Calco Flyer (ht 48) who is owned by a syndicate of golf enthusiasts. He wasn’t bought as a world beater, but has been a revelation. Unfortunately, he has dipped a bit since. He produced a fantastic run in the Stud Book Trophy at Nottingham (29.53-500m) only to run badly in the final. He did a decent trial run (28.68calc) beating Blonde Nipper, but it is in a brutally tough heat.
