Another reason the race has lost some appeal is that the French so rarely come over . When the Aga Khan,the Wertheimers or old Stavros Niarchos had a strong contender it always added interest . The million pound pot will help, but a bonus payment for a Derby/Arc or Derby/Grand Prix de Paris winner could add incentive. As another poster suggested, an incentive for the JRA is a good idea.
Epsom need a Nick Beaumont-Smith type character who can go out and drum up international business.
As for geezer Frank Warren’s relaunch, the weather rather kyboshed that so we will have to reserve judgement till next year . I’m not sure the ‘I remember eating jellied eels with my dad and taking bets from Prince Monolulu” shtick will cut much ice with the yoof though, so they will need some younger faces to help with the selling. But the Jockey Club are trying hard so let’s not knock them. I still think that on decent ground Maltese Cross would have hosed up- he was tanking 2f out- and had that happened, the spin on the race would have looked much more positive today.
