Good morning all,

Given we are living times where social distancing is the norm, it was appropriate that this years Derby should provide no finer example of the term in action.

You can read my thoughts on Saturday’s Derby and the Oaks in the main piece. Plus, you will also find Monday's tip which runs at Ayr.

Its daylight robbery

This year’s Derby may have taken place on Saturday but it wasn’t really a race. Most racing fans want to see a few horses in with chances on the run from the bend. Well this year’s race was already over by the time they came into the bend.

In a time when masking up seems the order of the day. It was apt that a modern-day Dick Turpin should emulate the 18^th Century masked highwayman on Epsom Downs.

The record books will show that Aidan O’Brien trained another Derby winner, his eighth, courtesy of Serpentine and jockey Emmet McNamara rode his first Derby winner. But it won't tell the whole story.

Now don’t get me wrong I’m pleased for the jockey. McNamara had gone so close to a classic win in the Irish Derby, a week earlier, and he must have thought he might never get a better chance at Classic success. 

Well he rode a superb tactical race on Serpentine who made virtually all to win the Epsom Classic. However, the race was a bit like last year’s Irish Derby when Sovereign was gifted an easy lead. The lesson that you don’t give a Galileo colt trained by O’Brien eight lengths start and expect it to fold seemed to be lost on a host of top jockeys who must have left their racing brains back in the weighing room.

The best horse on the day won

Apart from the winning ride, the race itself was an absolute joke. Don’t get me wrong the result of the race wasn’t a fluke. The winner is a high class colt and he was far and away the best horse in the race over the distance

Returned at 25/1, I think he would have been shorter if he hadn’t just run a week earlier. But who wins a Derby after a winning a maiden, albeit impressively, seven days later? It’s unheard of, isn't it?

At halfway Serpentine was twelve lengths clear of his rivals and not stopping. It’s ironic but looking at sectionals, Serpentine ran the slowest final three furlongs of the entire field. However, it didn’t matter as the race had already been won five furlongs from home.

Poor tactical rides

The winner may well have been the best. But the sectionals will tell you many jockeys gave themselves no chance.

The winner was allowed an easy lead in a race at that wasn’t run at a particularly strong pace and I doubt even Pegasus could have caught him.

Kameko, a doubtful stayer on pedigree, didn’t help his cause by being too keen and there was little chance that the 2000 Guineas winner’s stamina would hold out. In the circumstances he ran a good race to finish fourth and can win again when returned to shorter.

The well fancied English King seemed to take an age to hit top gear. I think he lacked the gears to get into the race, although he did finish his race off strongly to take fifth. The St Leger looks his sort of race on the evidence of this run.

Mogul, the choice of Ryan Moore, still looked a bit big. He also looked fairly one paced in finishing sixth. He deserves another chance. However, based on what he’s shown so far, I don’t think he’s going to live up to connections high expectations.

Russian Emperor was given far too much to do and could never get competitive. I don’t think he’s good enough to win at this level.

Vatican City runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas was ridden like a non-stayer and he never really figured. He will surely be dropped back to a mile and would be a strong contender for a race like the Sussex Stakes.

A race best forgotten

Only time will tell how good the form of this year’s Derby is. However, as a spectacle I doubt it will bring any new followers to the sport.  An unsatisfactory race but also a fitting one given the times we are living in.

Despite my negativity about the race from the sports perspective. I can’t really complain punting wise as Victor Value subscribers were advised Amhran Na Bhfiann each way at 100/1!

Love conquers all

Whilst the Derby was a disappointment. An hour and a quarter earlier we saw a superstar filly in action as 1000 Guineas heroine Love won the Oaks in impressive style.

The two front runners had gone off too fast and were well clear of the field at halfway. However, unlike in the Derby they came back to their field. The strong pace suited the winner who took up the running two out and went clear of her field between the final two furlongs.

Strong at the finish she put nine lengths between herself and stablemate Ennistymon with Frankly Darling back in third. The runner-up is going the right way and can win more races but was no match for the winner. Frankly Darling didn’t seem at home at the track but wouldn’t have beaten Love even if she had.

Where next?

Where next for Love?  The Irish Oaks in two weeks or maybe even a tilt at the King George. No doubt the Arc will have to come under serious consideration, given the allowances 3-year-old fillies get in the race. However, I would love to see her head to Doncaster for the St Leger and became the first filly since Oh So Sharp to win the fillies Triple Crown. It would be great for the sport if she did.

Monday Racing:

Enough of the past. Time to focus on the present. A winner today would be nice, and I hopefully have found one running at Ayr this afternoon.

Ayr

1:40 – Dual C&D winner Muscika has yet to win on his ten starts with soft in the going description but he's placed on four occasions, including when runner-up in the Sky Bet Dash at York, 12 months ago. He can now race off 6lb lower and shaped like a return to the winner’s enclosure was close to hand when 2^nd of 13 at Doncaster 6-days ago. This looks slightly easier and a reproduction of last seasons best form would be more than good enough.

Selection: Muscika

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Until next week.