Golden Horn Looking Good for the Derby, Irish Guineas Results and More.
Frankie Dettori Pleased with Derby Favourite Golden Horn
Golden Horn, the 7/4 favourite (with BetVictor among other bookies) for the Derby, which takes place at Epsom on the 6th June, is pleasing Frankie Dettori with his work ahead of the big race.
The winner of the Dante Stakes at York, considered a key Derby trial, “didn’t turn a hair” when having a light bit of work round Epsom’s notoriously demanding contours during a Breakfast with the Stars event at the track. The unbeaten colt, trained by John Gosden, was joined by runner up at York, Jack Hobbs, also trained by Gosden (and priced at odds of 7/1 for the Derby) and Star Of Seville and Jazzi Top, both of whom are aimed at the Oaks.
Dettori, who doesn’t have the greatest of records at the Derby admitted to nerves, saying “I won’t be sleeping for a while, until Derby day. Before Authorized (his only Derby win, in 2007), because it was one that had eluded me for so many years and I wanted to win so badly, I did have some sleepless nights for a long while before the race.”
Elm Park, priced at 8/1, was also taking in the course but didn’t look at home on the undulating track, whilst Aiden O’Brien’s pair of Hans Holbein and Kilimanjaro, who recently won at Chester and Lingfield respectively, represent a relatively weak showing for the Irish champion trainer, although Found, a filly, may yet be added.
Irish Guineas
The Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas recently took place at The Curragh as Gleneagles, who won the English version of the Classic at Nerwmarket, gave Aiden O’Brien his third 2,000 Guineas double and his 10th win in this particular race. Ryan Moore led Gleneagles to a fine win with a brilliant late charge to see off Endless Drama and Ivawood. Moore, who rode a five-timer at Newbury recently, is enjoying a brilliant season and wouldn’t be defeated on the 2/5 favourite. Gleneagles is now priced at odds of 4/1 for the Derby and is the second favourite, although a run in the St James’s Palace Stakes looks more likely given the extra distance of the Derby.
In the 1,000 Guineas Pleascach saw off the favourite Found for trainer Jim Bolger, with Kevin Manning in the saddle for the 11/2 winner. That win denied Moore an astonishing Guineas quadruple after success in the other three Guineas races and the jockey, and trainer O’Brien, will have been disappointed they couldn’t quite do enough here. Devonshire was third, with Jack Naylor fourth.
