With questions over many I have every confidence in my massive 14-1 Epsom Derby NAP
MATT CHAPMAN With questions over many I have every confidence in my massive 14-1 Epsom Derby NAP
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE Aga wins the Aga Derby. That's fairytale stuff, isn't it? I'm not so sure.
I'm talking, of course, about Midak, one of the French raiders supplemented into Saturday's Group 1 Betfred Derby, the world's most famous Classic beamed to you live on ITV.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
The Kings of Epsom - Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien - have an obvious chance with Delacroix... but I don't think they'll win the Derby
Credit: PA
Derby Day should always be something special for anyone who loves the thoroughbred.
For many it's the ultimate test of the Flat racehorse, and it has tested the best.
Winners like Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Nashwan and Sea The Stars... as well as those in defeat like Dancing Brave and El Gran Senor.
The twists and turns are one thing, the stamina test over a mile and a half of the Epsom Downs another.
Will he stay? That will be the question many ask about the majority of today's runners.
It's certainly a doubt for 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, who was hardly mentioned after being chased home by fast-finishing Field of Gold at HQ.
Could it just be Ruling Court was the best horse for William Buick and Charlie Appleby? Time will tell.
Delacroix really should stay for the Derby King of Trainers, Aidan O'Brien.
But Ballysax and Leopardstown Derby Trial victor Delacroix is by Dubawi.
In itself that is no bad thing.
But the super stallion has had nine runners to date in seven different editions of the Derby and none of them has finished in the first four.
Dubawi himself ran in the 2005 Derby, eventually going down eight lengths to Motivator.
That was six years after his sire, Dubai Millennium, met the only defeat of his career when sent off the favourite for the Derby.
Pride of Arras has only raced twice but looked very useful when romping home from Damysus in a slowly run Dante at York which saw The Lion In Winter pull his chance away in the first two furlongs.
Ralph Beckett's challenger, ridden by Hector Crouch, is bred to stay and could be the real deal for owner-breeder Mrs David Aykroyd.
Her colours are also carried by Amiloc, who hacked up at Goodwood the other day but can't run here as he's been gelded.
Lambourn is a similar type to Los Angeles who ran well behind stable companion City of Troy last year.
Another O'Brien raider, Lambourn is proven over further having landed the Chester Vase but he was beaten by Delacroix in the Ballysax.
The other I want to mention, before I get on to Midak, is Stanhope Gardens, who is another for Beckett and has always appeared to be a Derby type.
Last season Stanhope Gardens was only beaten a neck by Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. That puts him bang in the mix.
The son of Ghaiyyath is bred to stay well and had effectively a racecourse gallop at Salisbury the other day when winning an event put on especially for him.
But let's get back to my French fancy Midak.
2
Mickael Barzalona celebrates riding Pour Moi to victory in Derby - and I think he'll be doing the same on Midak... though maybe not quite so early!
Credit: PA:Empics Sport
He runs in the colours of Aga Khan Studs SCEA in a Derby run in memory of His Highness Aga Khan IV.
That means he carries the green and red silks that have been worn at Epsom by legends like Shergar, Shahrastani, Kahyasi, Sinndar and Harzand.
So, naturally, a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Midak victory would be fairytale stuff under Mickaël Barzalona, who won this on Pour Moi in 2011.
Midak is out of a mare by Sinndar and is already very useful.
My hope is unbeaten in three races and his form suggests he's a solid, improving Group 2 horse, having scored well over an extended 1m2f at Saint-Cloud last time.
He kept on well that day suggesting this trip would suit and of course he's bred for it.
'He's definitely a horse improving with his races and will definitely get the trip,' explained Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs.
'We're not sure on his form lines and how it stacks up, but all he can do is win and he's won every start.
'He's going to have to handle the track and he's a big horse with a big, long stride. Mickael Barzalona thinks he will handle the track because he's well balanced.
'We would be very happy to see him finish in the first three or even first five, but he is a bit of an unknown quantity and he does everything easily at home. It's a little bit of a shot in the dark, but we thought it was worth it.'
It's the type of Derby to simply 'have a go'.
And there would be no more poignant victory than one for Midak.
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
16 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Eclipse one-two all set for International rematch at York
The richest race of the four-day Ebor Festival has a hard act to follow, as 12 months ago when City Of Troy beat Calandagan it was again rated as the best race anywhere in the world. Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix may have failed to fire as a 2-1 favourite for the Derby in early June, trailing home ninth behind stablemate Lambourn, but he proved that form all wrong when coming from an uncompromising position to beat his elders in an pulsating Eclipse at Sandown in early July. What. A. Race. This. Was. 🫨 DELACROIX GETS UP TO BEAT OMBUDSMAN AND WIN THE CORAL-ECLIPSE 🏆 — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 5, 2025 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman was the horse he nabbed in the shadow of the post that day and while John and Thady Gosden's runner is the marginal favourite to gain his revenge, O'Brien is happy with his charge ahead of the rematch. 'He seems in good form since Sandown, so I'm looking forward to it,' said the Ballydoyle handler. 'What he did at Sandown after the passage he had there was unusual (the way he quickened up), so we hope he runs well again.' City Of Troy went to the Breeders' Cup Classic last year and whoever wins the International will again be guaranteed a starting berth, should they wish to tackle the Del Mar dirt on November 1. To ensure a true-run race at York after the sedate pace of the Eclipse, Godolphin supplemented the Andre Fabre-trained Birr Castle to help Ombudsman. John Gosden said: 'The Eclipse was a muddling race and we didn't want the prospect of a repeat, so Godolphin have kindly provided us with a nice horse to use as a pacemaker and he arrived on Thursday.' Danon Decile in action in Newmarket (York Racecourse) Adding the international flavour is the Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile, who has been in Newmarket for a couple of weeks. He has not run since beating Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in early April, but that form looks strong given the runner-up has since won twice at Group One level. Calandagan's trainer Francis-Henri Graffard decided against sending his King George hero to York this time around, but does saddle a fascinating contender for the Aga Khan Studs in the unbeaten Daryz. 'Maybe this will all be too soon for him in his career, but I know Francis just felt the horse is in great form, he's worked him for this race and when the horse is well he doesn't like not running them because you never know what might happen,' said the the owners' French stud manager Nemone Routh. 'We'll take our chance and see where he ends up in the grand scheme. It helps that there's a pacemaker as he's a big horse with a big, long stride.' She went on: 'On paper you'd imagine he'll stay a mile and a half when you stand in beside him but for the moment he's been running well over a mile and a quarter. A strongly-run 10 furlongs should suit him. 'There's no excuses, it's a level playing field with a long straight at York, it should be a guide as to where we fall among his generation.' Both of the parents of Andrew Balding's See The Fire won this race, for those who like their pedigrees. The daughter of Sea The Stars and Arabian Queen produced her career-best over this course and distance when winning the Middleton Stakes earlier in the season and has since finished third in both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Nassau. 'The Juddmonte is always, in my opinion, the strongest race of the year,' said Balding. See The Fire was 'electric' at York earlier in the season (Mike Egerton/PA) 'It's where the three-year-olds will always turn up against the older horses and you get that wonderful mix of perhaps horses stepping up from a mile to a mile and a quarter and horses dropping back from a mile and a half. 'I think this year it's very strong, as you'd expect. There are a couple of exciting unknowns in there, the Japanese horse and the French horse. But the thing about See The Fire is we know she loves York. She's unbeaten at the track. She was very impressive winning the Strensall last year and she was absolutely electric winning the Middleton this spring. 'I think certain horses favour York and she's certainly one of those – it's got to be to her advantage. I'm not saying that means she's going to win the race, but it should make her very competitive. 'She seems to have come out of Goodwood very well, but you never really know until you run again. I hope she's going there in really good form.'
North Wales Chronicle
18 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Eclipse one-two all set for International rematch at York
The richest race of the four-day Ebor Festival has a hard act to follow, as 12 months ago when City Of Troy beat Calandagan it was again rated as the best race anywhere in the world. Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix may have failed to fire as a 2-1 favourite for the Derby in early June, trailing home ninth behind stablemate Lambourn, but he proved that form all wrong when coming from an uncompromising position to beat his elders in an pulsating Eclipse at Sandown in early July. What. A. Race. This. Was. 🫨 DELACROIX GETS UP TO BEAT OMBUDSMAN AND WIN THE CORAL-ECLIPSE 🏆 — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 5, 2025 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman was the horse he nabbed in the shadow of the post that day and while John and Thady Gosden's runner is the marginal favourite to gain his revenge, O'Brien is happy with his charge ahead of the rematch. 'He seems in good form since Sandown, so I'm looking forward to it,' said the Ballydoyle handler. 'What he did at Sandown after the passage he had there was unusual (the way he quickened up), so we hope he runs well again.' City Of Troy went to the Breeders' Cup Classic last year and whoever wins the International will again be guaranteed a starting berth, should they wish to tackle the Del Mar dirt on November 1. To ensure a true-run race at York after the sedate pace of the Eclipse, Godolphin supplemented the Andre Fabre-trained Birr Castle to help Ombudsman. John Gosden said: 'The Eclipse was a muddling race and we didn't want the prospect of a repeat, so Godolphin have kindly provided us with a nice horse to use as a pacemaker and he arrived on Thursday.' Adding the international flavour is the Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile, who has been in Newmarket for a couple of weeks. He has not run since beating Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in early April, but that form looks strong given the runner-up has since won twice at Group One level. Calandagan's trainer Francis-Henri Graffard decided against sending his King George hero to York this time around, but does saddle a fascinating contender for the Aga Khan Studs in the unbeaten Daryz. 'Maybe this will all be too soon for him in his career, but I know Francis just felt the horse is in great form, he's worked him for this race and when the horse is well he doesn't like not running them because you never know what might happen,' said the the owners' French stud manager Nemone Routh. 'We'll take our chance and see where he ends up in the grand scheme. It helps that there's a pacemaker as he's a big horse with a big, long stride.' She went on: 'On paper you'd imagine he'll stay a mile and a half when you stand in beside him but for the moment he's been running well over a mile and a quarter. A strongly-run 10 furlongs should suit him. 'There's no excuses, it's a level playing field with a long straight at York, it should be a guide as to where we fall among his generation.' Both of the parents of Andrew Balding's See The Fire won this race, for those who like their pedigrees. The daughter of Sea The Stars and Arabian Queen produced her career-best over this course and distance when winning the Middleton Stakes earlier in the season and has since finished third in both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Nassau. 'The Juddmonte is always, in my opinion, the strongest race of the year,' said Balding. 'It's where the three-year-olds will always turn up against the older horses and you get that wonderful mix of perhaps horses stepping up from a mile to a mile and a quarter and horses dropping back from a mile and a half. 'I think this year it's very strong, as you'd expect. There are a couple of exciting unknowns in there, the Japanese horse and the French horse. But the thing about See The Fire is we know she loves York. She's unbeaten at the track. She was very impressive winning the Strensall last year and she was absolutely electric winning the Middleton this spring. 'I think certain horses favour York and she's certainly one of those – it's got to be to her advantage. I'm not saying that means she's going to win the race, but it should make her very competitive. 'She seems to have come out of Goodwood very well, but you never really know until you run again. I hope she's going there in really good form.'
Leader Live
24 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Eclipse one-two all set for International rematch at York
The richest race of the four-day Ebor Festival has a hard act to follow, as 12 months ago when City Of Troy beat Calandagan it was again rated as the best race anywhere in the world. Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix may have failed to fire as a 2-1 favourite for the Derby in early June, trailing home ninth behind stablemate Lambourn, but he proved that form all wrong when coming from an uncompromising position to beat his elders in an pulsating Eclipse at Sandown in early July. What. A. Race. This. Was. 🫨 DELACROIX GETS UP TO BEAT OMBUDSMAN AND WIN THE CORAL-ECLIPSE 🏆 — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 5, 2025 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman was the horse he nabbed in the shadow of the post that day and while John and Thady Gosden's runner is the marginal favourite to gain his revenge, O'Brien is happy with his charge ahead of the rematch. 'He seems in good form since Sandown, so I'm looking forward to it,' said the Ballydoyle handler. 'What he did at Sandown after the passage he had there was unusual (the way he quickened up), so we hope he runs well again.' City Of Troy went to the Breeders' Cup Classic last year and whoever wins the International will again be guaranteed a starting berth, should they wish to tackle the Del Mar dirt on November 1. To ensure a true-run race at York after the sedate pace of the Eclipse, Godolphin supplemented the Andre Fabre-trained Birr Castle to help Ombudsman. John Gosden said: 'The Eclipse was a muddling race and we didn't want the prospect of a repeat, so Godolphin have kindly provided us with a nice horse to use as a pacemaker and he arrived on Thursday.' Adding the international flavour is the Japanese Derby winner Danon Decile, who has been in Newmarket for a couple of weeks. He has not run since beating Calandagan in the Dubai Sheema Classic in early April, but that form looks strong given the runner-up has since won twice at Group One level. Calandagan's trainer Francis-Henri Graffard decided against sending his King George hero to York this time around, but does saddle a fascinating contender for the Aga Khan Studs in the unbeaten Daryz. 'Maybe this will all be too soon for him in his career, but I know Francis just felt the horse is in great form, he's worked him for this race and when the horse is well he doesn't like not running them because you never know what might happen,' said the the owners' French stud manager Nemone Routh. 'We'll take our chance and see where he ends up in the grand scheme. It helps that there's a pacemaker as he's a big horse with a big, long stride.' She went on: 'On paper you'd imagine he'll stay a mile and a half when you stand in beside him but for the moment he's been running well over a mile and a quarter. A strongly-run 10 furlongs should suit him. 'There's no excuses, it's a level playing field with a long straight at York, it should be a guide as to where we fall among his generation.' Both of the parents of Andrew Balding's See The Fire won this race, for those who like their pedigrees. The daughter of Sea The Stars and Arabian Queen produced her career-best over this course and distance when winning the Middleton Stakes earlier in the season and has since finished third in both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Nassau. 'The Juddmonte is always, in my opinion, the strongest race of the year,' said Balding. 'It's where the three-year-olds will always turn up against the older horses and you get that wonderful mix of perhaps horses stepping up from a mile to a mile and a quarter and horses dropping back from a mile and a half. 'I think this year it's very strong, as you'd expect. There are a couple of exciting unknowns in there, the Japanese horse and the French horse. But the thing about See The Fire is we know she loves York. She's unbeaten at the track. She was very impressive winning the Strensall last year and she was absolutely electric winning the Middleton this spring. 'I think certain horses favour York and she's certainly one of those – it's got to be to her advantage. I'm not saying that means she's going to win the race, but it should make her very competitive. 'She seems to have come out of Goodwood very well, but you never really know until you run again. I hope she's going there in really good form.'
