Good morning all,
The furore surrounding the running of no-hoper Diore Lia in Saturday's Derby has reached fever pitch, with some calling it a travesty and others not really giving a hoot.
To me, it's not like it's the first time a no-hoper has run in the Derby and it won't be the last.
It did make me think about some of the great no-hopers there's been in the race and how they fared, both in the race and afterwards. My thoughts on the whole saga, plus today's selection, on the main piece.
It's now certain that the 52-rated Diore Lia will take her chance in the Derby on Saturday, and it's clear that's upset quite a few folk. But, as things stand, she's fully entitled to take her chance and give the charity she's running for some publicity, so I don't see what the fuss is about.
The main argument goes that both horse and inexperienced jockey, Gina Mangan, will “get in the way”. I'd suggest, given her rating, she'll be lucky to stay with them for much more six furlongs and I can't really see that being an issue. Besides, traffic problems in races can occur whether all the horses are rated 110 and above or 60 and below, especially at Epsom, so that argument just doesn't cut it with me. Pacemakers are arguably just as much an issue as they fall back through the field and I don't see anyone calling for a ban on those.
Jimmy Lindley did a piece in the Racing Post yesterday and he made a couple of salient points, then ruined all his good work by saying “if they wanted a Classic runner, why not run in the Oaks?”, thereby missing the point completely. Anyway, she runs, for better or worse, and that's that. Until they change the rules and introduce a minimum rating to get into races such as this (and that opens up a whole new can of worms) then no-hopers will take their chance.
No-one gave 500-1 chance Terimon much hope after a win in a Leicester maiden as he was already looking fairly exposed, and it looked like a case of trainer Clive Brittain having another tilt at windmills. But he surprised everyone by finishing second to Nashwan back in 1989 and subsequently proved himself top class. Sunshine Street, trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, was fourth in the 1998 Derby at the odds of 150-1 too. I doubt either would have qualified under any ratings rules so it does go to show that no-hopers can, very occasionally, outrun their odds.
Terimon finishing second reminded me of the story of the young man that got the tricast up on the race, only to be told on collecting the bet that there wasn't a tricast declared. Instead, after arbitration and some to-ing and fro-ing, he was offered the trifecta on the race (and a bit more) but turned it down and decided to go to court with his case. Sadly, for him, in the meantime it was discovered he was underage, so was given his stake back and sent with a flea in his ear. Look at what you could have won…
Other great no-hopers in recent times – the wonderful Castlemorris King, 12th in Pour Moi's Derby but subsequently quite a decent hurdler for Brian Barr when the ground was on the quick side, Portuguese Lil, last in Shaamit's 1995 Derby and never won a race in her 19-race career, Maidstone Mixture, who went off 250-1 for New Approach's 2008 Derby, finished stone last but four races later won a Novice Hurdle at Cartmel, and this won't be the first time John Jenkins has run a no-hoper in the race – step forward Plato's Republic, 500-1 and last of the 24 that finished in Erhaab's 1994 win. Platos' Republic did actually win a race at 40-1 – a 3m2f Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot some five years later!
Yesterday's selection, Arkadios, looked for all the world like getting involved in the finish of the 7.20 at Newton Abbot last night but bad mistakes 2 out and the last rather sealed his fate, and he ended up out of the frame, much to my annoyance as I'd gone in again e/w at 16's. Such things are sent to try us. Today, I'm going to try old Endeavour in the 3.10 at Cartmel, as he's the only one that really wants any cut in the ground, has won over this C&D and the handicapper is giving him a real chance now. His run at Wetherby two starts back shows all is not lost yet, and this looks his chance to get one on the board.
Today's selection – Endeavour 3.10 Cartmel
Good luck with all your bets today,
David.
Thanks for the memories dave ‘ actually backed Terimon 500/1 £2.50 e/w afterwards took the missus away on holiday for a fortnight in tenneriff
Think the horse belonged to lady beverbrook at the time… Clive Britain was a wonderful trainer ( trained my favourite horse of all time – pebbles )
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However horses rated 52 running in the Derby is a farce the runner should be million to one ! Not 1000-1 sorry but Diore Lia shouldn’t be allowed to run in one of the worlds most prestigious races,understand there madness as it’s making us talk about the horse,rather than talk about the charity it represents
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I’m imagining was given a entry when with jane chapel hyam before stepping onto a racetrack,must have showed something before making debut !!! Everybody has dreams and for the owner,it would be that his filly don’t finish last ,Very well written argument for the runner, good luck with todays selection,endeavour who would probably finish ahead if Diore Lia in the Derby lol
Cheers Steve, and well done with Terimon – glad you spent the money on a treat for you and the good lady! My old grandad always said when you had a nice win to treat yourself – “don’t stand there and give it ’em all back!” Good luck today and here’s hoping Endeavour does the business. David.
The Derby is the dream,of having a runner in the the worlds most famous flat race,so,is it only the preserve of Coolmore of Godolphin who chuck numbers at it in a scattergun approach,that seems to be acceptable.The small man is treated like poison,like a piece of shit that has been scraped from ones shoe.everybody has to pay the entry fee,so whats the problem,some of these owners are more equal than others.I rejoice when Coolmore don’t win these big races,its heartwarming to see small owners faces when their pride and joy has triumphed.Oh and not seeing O’Brien with that bloody mobile glued to his ear after every triumph.
Mike, I think many of us like to see the underdog do well in these big events – the success of Quiet Reflection last year gave all of us who own a tiny share of something in a syndicate hope that one day we could hit the big time – and I agree that the big boys, particularly when using “team tactics” in a race, do rather take things to extremes these days. And yes, that mobile – who’s he taking to? Surely the owners are there on the big days? Good luck today. David.