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Just as the betting suggested, it was plain sailing for Zawraq there and he was very impressive.
Likewise, the betting suggested Jamaica wasn’t going to win and his Derby hopes surely punctured right there, proving that his 16/1 quote compared to Zawraq at 25/1 was all wrong.
Endless Drama is a strapping looking sort who should progress and may like better ground.
Parish Boy was slowly away, seemed to be rushed into catching up and he folded like Granny’s old squeeze box. That was a bitterly poor effort and you just wonder why he needed a hood on? Thankfully for me, I don’t back Bolger horses, as his stamina was a tempting asset in the conditions. I am not entirely sure why but I have gone off Bolger this past two seasons.
Jamaica is pushed out in the Derby, with Zawraq coming in to 20/1. Zawraq has been cut to 14/1 and shorter for the 2000 Guineas, which would seem a more assured target with no stamina concerns.
Looks like Aiden O’Brien will need to move up the pecking order and that may start with John F Kennedy shortly.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
The first big bubble of the season burst in spectacular style as John F Kennedy finished last of 3 at odds of 1/4 fav.
He’s out to 10/1 for the Derby, which is laughable and bookies keeping him as low as 7/1 surely have no initiative or are emasculated by fear of the O’Brien stable.
He makes no appeal to me anyway.
14/1 Zawraq is gone and he’s the same odds as JFK generally, having started the day around 25/1 compared to the talking horse at 7/2.
Unless there was someone on a grassy knoll at Leopardstown today I can’t see JFK lifting the Derby. The form of his Gp 3 win hasn’t been working out and he was mighty short for Epsom on what he had done to date.
I hope Ol’ Man River and Highland Reel can prove a lot better than their stable mate.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
What do we think of Sir Isaac Newton? I have a small bet on him at 20/1 and he was cut to 14’s without leaving his box. The maiden with Zawraq looked strong at the time, with both colts seemingly held in very high regard. Zawraq went some way to justifying his trainer’s high opinion of him today with a smooth win, but it is Sir Isaac Newton that I imagine may have the most improvement in him from that maiden. That maiden reportedly came a few weeks too soon for him yet he forced Zawraq to pull out all the stops. Both colts are far from certain to stay the trip but the lack of talk about Sir Isaac Newton for the Guineas would suggest that they’ll go further with him. He’s entered in two maidens at Leopardstown this week, one over a mile and the other over ten furlongs.
Forget who shot JFK
Coolmore will have wished they had named him John Major after that.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Stan James have put Grey Lion in at 14/1 for the Derby. That looks crazy value to me for a horse who won a 13K conditions race at Saint Cloud when 4/5 fav. Of course he has scope but 14/1?
They have Migwar at 33/1, which is a bit more like it I would say.
There seems to have been a rush to get on Elm Park after John F Kennedy’s failure today and he’s getting a bit skinny now.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
First of all isn’t it great to have the flat back?
Now this is the game, can’t be done with all that silly twig jumping 
.Mr Caution re your comments regarding JFK – What amazes me is he is still only 9/1 on Betfair. I cannot have this horse for the Derby. Yes I know Mr O’Brien isn’t likely to have his string wound right up yet and it was soft ground at Leopardstown yesterday but nobody can tell me this is a Derby horse. Aiden would’ve had an idea of what sort of run he’d have been expecting from JFK, but last in a three runner race without ever looking likely to get in a blow I’m sure was nowhere near expected. Added to that this horse has been beaten twice now even before the Guineas has been run and he hasn’t even got the excuse of having been beaten in the top company. I keep hearing “O’Brien often sends his best Derby horse the Ballysax / Derrinstown route” – no he doesn’t. The last two O’Brien Derby winners Camelot and Australia ran in the Guineas. JFK reminds me more of that horse last year Geoffrey Chaucer. JFK may win the Derby but if he does it’ll be a big surprise to me.
I can understand the support for Elm Park. A group two and a group one winner, goes on pretty much any ground. Not a certain stayer on pedigree (though I’m no expert) but a decent enough chance of seeing out the trip especially in what at this stage doesn’t look likely to be a vintage Derby (very early to say that with any condfidence, admittedly). Added to that he’ll have Atzeni on board who I thought rode Epsom absolutely brilliantly on Kingston Hill last year from stall two.
First of all isn’t it great to have the flat back?
Now this is the game, can’t be done with all that silly twig jumping .Mr Caution re your comments regarding JFK – What amazes me is he is still only 9/1 on Betfair. I cannot have this horse for the Derby. Yes I know Mr O’Brien isn’t likely to have his string wound right up yet and it was soft ground at Leopardstown yesterday but nobody can tell me this is a Derby horse. Aiden would’ve had an idea of what sort of run he’d have been expecting from JFK, but last in a three runner race without ever looking likely to get in a blow I’m sure was nowhere near expected. Added to that this horse has been beaten twice now even before the Guineas has been run and he hasn’t even got the excuse of having been beaten in the top company. I keep hearing “O’Brien often sends his best Derby horse the Ballysax / Derrinstown route” – no he doesn’t. The last two O’Brien Derby winners Camelot and Australia ran in the Guineas. JFK reminds me more of that horse last year Geoffrey Chaucer. JFK may win the Derby but if he does it’ll be a big surprise to me.
I can understand the support for Elm Park. A group two and a group one winner, goes on pretty much any ground. Not a certain stayer on pedigree (though I’m no expert) but a decent enough chance of seeing out the trip especially in what at this stage doesn’t look likely to be a vintage Derby (very early to say that with any condfidence, admittedly). Added to that he’ll have Atzeni on board who I thought rode Epsom absolutely brilliantly on Kingston Hill last year from stall two.
The concern for me is how Elm Park will cope at Epsom, particularly if it is faster ground. He seemed to relish the Racing Post Trophy test and I’d probably have preferred to see him bypass Newmarket.
Battle Of Marengo was another Ballysax/Derristown O’ Brien horse who was a bit disappointing in the Derby and went backwards thereafter.
Ol’ Man River is my most confident selection for now but the Guineas vibes haven’t been great. Hopefully he’ll take the Dante route to Epsom.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
after watching Elm Park work at newbury today,if it come up quick at epsom,i wouldn’t touch him with borrowed money.I remember when he won the Royal Lodge he looked all at sea in the dip and only put his head down and raced when hitting the rising ground.Compare that to the way he moved on the flatter track(softer going) when winning the Racing Post Trophy
Ol man river looked to me the most impressive 2yo last year and if he has trained on I will follow him as he is a lovely individual with a cracking pedigree. The early trials look like stables sizing each other up with no stand out run yet. Could this be the year we get a repeat of ruler of the world winning the Derby having not run at 2 . I’d wait until Obrien has run most of his top horses and then chester which usually gives a good barometer as to how ballydoyle is doing.
after watching Elm Park work at newbury today,if it come up quick at epsom,i wouldn’t touch him with borrowed money.I remember when he won the Royal Lodge he looked all at sea in the dip and only put his head down and raced when hitting the rising ground.Compare that to the way he moved on the flatter track(softer going) when winning the Racing Post Trophy
Apparently connections were delighted with Elm Park today and it can only get better for the horse moving forward.
I didn’t see him work but the trainer and jockey always seem to be keen to take the positives from these things.
He’s as low as 6/1 for the Derby and I can’t have that with faster ground than he met a Doncaster a probability.
His Royal Lodge form was put into some perspective with runner up Nafaqa unable to lift the Craven, although running well enough in what didn’t look the strongest of renewals.
Zawraq is awfully short with stamina far from a given and only 8/1 on offer.
I have Highland Reel at 25/1 for the race but I am not sure if he’ll get the trip. I was a little surprised when they dropped him back in trip at Goodwood to 7f. That race hasn’t produced a winner from 20 attempts and I am hoping he’ll put up a show in the Guineas that suggests he’ll be capable of lasting at Epsom.
I was impressed by Ol’ Man River last year. I am not sure he beat a lot but he cost a lot of cash and his Ma and Pa could both go some. He looks to me like he could travel well at Epsom and finish to good effect. I would hope he’ll stay but you never know for sure. I wish the vibes had been more positive for him but you never really know with this outfit.
I recall when Ruler Of The World won the Derby that Aiden listed the ones who were “definitely” going to Epsom and Ruler Of The World wasn’t mentioned. The horse was friendless in the betting and not a mention was made about him. Joseph O’Brien rode Battle Of Marengo and never mentioned Ruler Of The World for one second.
Cue the race and afterwards Aiden tells the press that Joseph was always going to ride Battle Of Marengo or Ruler Of The World. As Jim Royle would say “My Ar$e”Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Interesting that France Galop are showing that Grey Lion has been given an entry in the Sandown Classic Trial. How they have this information before the Racing Post or Sporting Life…I dunno, but if correct it could easily be surmised as a declaration of intent.
Interesting that France Galop are showing that Grey Lion has been given an entry in the Sandown Classic Trial. How they have this information before the Racing Post or Sporting Life…I dunno, but if correct it could easily be surmised as a declaration of intent.
Grey Lion wasn’t originally entered in The Derby but was added to the entries at the recent, second stage for the race. Not a guarantee of course but interesting that they made that move.
He’s too skinny for me at 16/1 with the hoodoos that he has to overcome, which are encapsulated in the old Football song:-
“He’s Grey, he’s French, his ar$3 is up for rent”
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
“He’s Grey, he’s French, his ar$3 is up for rent”
Ar$3hole Wenger??
I’ll get my coat…..
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I like Moheet for this.
Yes Hannon cant train a horse a yard over a mile but the calibre of horse he is now getting is slightly changing and this one being by High Chaparral could and in my mind should be aimed at 10f to 12f. The owner is keen on having a Derby contender.Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
John Gosden’s Christophermarlowe is entered in the Derby Trial at Epsom on Wednesday. He has Frankie jocked upped and he looks one of the leading lights there based on the ratings. Only Godolphin’s Future Empire is rated higher on 100 and he was beaten twice last year after winning his debut race.
You would expect with the Gosden stable finding its feet the past few days and Christophermarlowe having experience at the track already, he will probably go off fav here and a win will surely see him trimmed in for the Derby.
Christophermarlowe is 33/1 for Epsom and there are probably a lot worse bets in the field than him. I would suggest backing him soon if you fancy him.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I would agree Steve he looks like he was laid out for the race and has good pedigree breeding as well as interesting owners and having had the experience of Epsom already gives him the edge. I already have had a punt and got the 33’s on him as part of a few doubles and trebles.
I would agree Steve he looks like he was laid out for the race and has good pedigree breeding as well as interesting owners and having had the experience of Epsom already gives him the edge. I already have had a punt and got the 33’s on him as part of a few doubles and trebles.
I haven’t backed him yet myself because I’m on Ol’ Man River and Highland Reel, so I’d like to see how they get on first.
It just seems sensible to get on before Wednesday, as he probably needs to win quite well to be a realistic Derby horse.
I would think that they might run him in the Epsom trial and then one of the more fashionable ones as well. The Epsom Derby Trial isn’t really a source of Derby winners these days and I would hope this is just a starting point for the season, get some more experience of the track and then go up in class for one of the better trials.
Future Empire is one I’m not sure about because he was placed in two group 3 races but I am doubtful about the quality of those races. He finished just in front of Lexington Times in one race and one place ahead of stable mate Strong Chemistry in another. Both of those horses were recently beaten in Handicap company, so it’s not a daunting standard in my mind at least.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Now this is the game, can’t be done with all that silly twig jumping 
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