Tornado Alert has Bin Suroor hopeful he can take Epsom by storm
Lammtarra put Bin Suroor in the spotlight at Epsom in 1995 and with the old mantra of fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby set to be put to the test once again – after Generous so gloriously did in 1991 – the multiple Classic winning-trainer is confident this year's candidate will excel now upped in distance.
'The further he goes, the better he will be. He is a nice and relaxed horse,' said Bin Suroor.
Tornado Alert (red cap) finished fourth at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)
'Oisin Murphy is going to ride him, he has been in a few mornings to ride him and he's been happy with him. I'm looking forward to seeing them together in a race.
'The first three were a little in front of him at Newmarket, but he beat Wimbledon Hawkeye who is a good horse.
'He has done everything right since the Guineas and it is exciting to be going to another Classic with him.'
Ralph Beckett is still awaiting his first victory in the premier Classic and holds a strong hand with York hero Pride Of Arras and Stanhope Gardens.
The former bids to become the 12th horse to do the Dante/Derby double, with the Kimpton Down handler happy his York scorer ticks plenty of boxes.
Pride Of Arras heads to Epsom with leading claims (Mike Egerton/PA)
Beckett said: 'I think he's tightened up for the Dante and he's on good terms with himself. We're going there with our best foot forward, that's for sure.
'He's got more speed than I imagined he would have, having trained his dam and his brothers and sisters, so that is a positive, and his half-sister and half-brother both won at Epsom, which gives us encouragement.
'Soft ground isn't a concern, he has a soft ground pedigree and it's been a bit of a surprise to me he handles quick ground as well as he does.'
Stanhope Gardens, meanwhile, was only a neck behind Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes in October and made a foot-perfect return at Salisbury.
'Going into the winter this horse was always the one I thought was most likely to show up here,' added Beckett.
Stanhope Gardens ran Delacroix close at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA)
'He had the form with Delacroix and he was still pretty inexperienced that day, just his third run having won at Beverley and finished behind Ruling Court on his debut.
'He's a very well-balanced horse, very light on his feet and it's likely he will be suited by Epsom.
'He's a very straightforward customer, the reason he didn't make a trial is because he galloped away from home in mid-April and pulled a muscle in the back of his ribs which forced him to miss two weeks, so he's done pretty well to get here.'
Damysus has come a long way since winning on debut at Southwell in December and after catching the eye of many observers when second to Pride Of Arras in the Dante, he could give John Gosden his third Derby and first in conjunction with son Thady.
The Clarehaven team will also saddle the Juddmonte-owned Nightwalker, a staying-on fifth behind his stablemate at York, with Thady Gosden expecting both to thrive at a mile and a half.
Nightwalker (left) and Damysus went through their paces at Epsom (John Hoy/The Jockey Club)
He said: 'Their pedigrees suggests they will stay and also the way they travel during a race points to that as well.
'The Dante was an interesting race. There were a few little things to take out of it, but these are two horses we think will suit Epsom well. They were both doing their best work late on at York and it was a hot trial, but off that performance they've both shown that they deserve to come here.'
As well as Nightwalker, the Juddmonte team will be represented by Henri-François Devin's New Ground, one of two French raiders supplemented for the race alongside Francis-Henri Graffard's unbeaten Midak, who will fittingly sport the colours of the late Aga Khan in a race named this year in his honour.
Nemone Routh, French racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs, said: 'Every time we have run him he has improved and he has also improved physically through the year, so we would be hopeful he could run well.
'He's not going there devoid of hope and has done nothing wrong. It's an open race and he goes there with a sporting chance.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ex-Arsenal and Man Utd stars to go head-to-head for League One manager job
Plymouth Argyle are considering two former Premier League stars for their managerial vacancies after Wayne Rooney's replacement, Miron Muslic departed the club for Schalke. Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley are among the candidates to be interviewed for the vacant Plymouth Argyle job. Both the former Arsenal midfielder and ex-Manchester United ace are out of work having managed in the Championship last season Plymouth are in need of a new boss having seen Miron Muslic depart for Schalke after less than a year in the job. Muslic oversaw the side's relegation after replacing Wayne Rooney at Home Park. Rooney was sacked by the club in December after lasting 221 days of his three-year contract. The ex-Derby and Birmingham City boss managed just four wins and was relieved of his duties after a nine-game winless run put the team four points from safety. Muslic was expected to continue at Plymouth having given chairman Simon Hallett assurances he would lead the side's campaign to earn promotion from the Championship. The club had already moved to put personnel and structures in place that Muslic insisted upon. But Argyle have been forced into the managerial market and could go for a high-profile name once again with Wilshere and Cleverley in the frame. The former took charge of Norwich's final two games of the season as interim-boss after the Canaries parted ways with Johannes Hoff Thorup. Wilshere arrived at Carrow Road in October 2024 as a member of coaching staff. The ex-England international was previously in charge of Arsenal under-18s and parted ways with Norwich via mutual agreement after the team decided they wouldn't consider him for the permanent job. Cleverley meanwhile saw his playing career end with Watford where he moved into coaching. The 35-year-old was working with the Hornets academy before being named as interim head coach when Valerien Ismael was dismissed. Cleverly impressed enough to be handed the role on a permanent basis but lasted little over 12 months before being sacked last month. The United academy product remained proud of his efforts. "After the sadness wears off, I will forever have a feeling of gratitude and happiness towards the club and the place and people of Watford," he said. "To have built a connection with the players and supporters over the last 14 months has been special and the achievement I'm most proud about. "To see the development of our key players, young players and academy players, has been an incredibly rewarding part of my job and their progress in the game will always be something I look out for. We have used 11 players aged 21 and under this year and both they and the club will benefit hugely for this experience. "To maintain league position and points after selling key players last summer is something we should be proud of, as well as reflecting on why we couldn't sustain our play-off challenge will be something we should all review." Wilshere and Cleverley will also see competition from Des Buckingham. The 40-year-old was surprisingly sacked by Oxford United in December.
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Jack Grealish needs regular football for World Cup consideration
The 29-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium this season and been overlooked for both squads since the German coach took charge. Tuchel said he loved Grealish's personality, courage and quality after leaving him out in March due to a lack of game-time, with the attacking midfielder making just six City appearances since then. Grealish has found minutes hard to come by at the Etihad Stadium this season (Martin Rickett/PA) City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave the former Aston Villa player out of his Club World Cup squad and a summer exit appears on the cards. England boss Tuchel said: 'My thoughts are still the same. I love Jack for his personality and of course his talent. 'He is a very unique player who can handle big pressure on the field. He is never shy of pressure. It's the opposite. 'He grows in big matches but he's a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That's basically everything. Nothing has changed. 'I have maybe the same information as you that City are thinking of not taking him to the Club World Cup, so he needs to make himself available by playing. I think it's one of his key strengths. 'To go every three days and get better and better with every minute that he has in his legs – that's what is missing, nothing else. 'I have spoken to him after the first international camp and very shortly after the FA Cup final but not since then.' There are no City players in England's squad for June's double-header, but nine of the group are heading to the Club World Cup. Tuchel said he was not overthinking that aspect and, just like he did at the squad announcement, stressed that international matters took precedence. Asked if clubs had requested players did not feature in both Saturday's qualifier against Andorra and the Senegal friendly on Tuesday, he said: 'No one has asked me that question. 'I said also many times, I was like 15 years I think in club football, I think I have never asked an international coach what to do and how to use the players. "It was a good opportunity to change the environment." Thomas Tuchel talks on this week's warm weather training camp in Spain ☀️ — England (@England) June 6, 2025 'We have very limited time for ourselves. We have our very own interest also to see a lot of the players that are in camp and maybe even all of the players that are in camp, so we have an own interest to mix the teams. 'But no coach has called me and there was no request from the FA that a club called. 'We know the clubs have a lot of matches and the players go after to the Club World Cup. 'But it can also happen that some players start twice for us, but like I said, we also have an interest to see a lot of players in these two matches, so I think we will not in the end upset anyone.' Bukayo Saka might not be risked against Andorra as he recovers from a knock (Bradley Collyer/PA) Another player heading to the Club World Cup is Liam Delap, who is going there with new club Chelsea rather than leading the line for England Under-21s at the Euros. 'It would have been nice for him and for the FA for him to play a big tournament, but that's nowadays football,' said Tuchel, who may not risk Bukayo Saka against Andorra as he recovers from a knock. 'There are some rules and its club first. It would have been nice to do the 21s and would have been nice to see him lead the under-21s as the main striker.'
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Templegate's Derby tip: ‘He's extremely impressive and has way more to come' – My NAP on a huge day at Epsom
TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Templegate's Derby tip: 'He's extremely impressive and has way more to come' – My NAP on a huge day at Epsom Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TEMPLEGATE tackles a massive Saturday of racing confident of smashing the bookies. The big race of the day - the year, even - is the Derby and 19 runners go to post for the 3.30 live on ITV1 - although one huge name could be pulled at the last minute amid a dire weather warning. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Our man goes through every single runner and reveals his 1-2-3-4 Derby prediction in his brilliant runner-by-runner guide. You'll find all his picks below, so grab yourself a free bet offer and back a horse simply by clicking their odds. PRIDE OF ARRAS (3.30 Epsom, nap) He was extremely impressive when winning the Dante at York last time on just his second outing. That was his first start for nine months and he burst through the line to suggest this longer trip will be fine. His high draw could be tricky but not impossible and he has more to come. DOCKLANDS (1.35 Epsom, nb) He has some fancy Group 1 form including his second in the Queen Anne at last year's Royal Ascot. He was sent all over the globe after that with solid results and ran a solid comeback at Ascot last time. He'll be fitter for that and has won on quick and slow ground. VALVANO (4.15 Epsom, treble) He showed lots of promise last season and returned with a solid fourth at Goodwood last time. He should improve for that fitness wise and he handles any ground. Templegate's TV verdicts EPSOM 1.00 IF it comes up properly soft by racetime, Sparks Fly would be a cracking bet given her superb record in testing conditions. But assuming it's good to soft or quicker, ROYAL DRESS is the one to be on. She was an unlucky third in this last year before striking in this grade at The Curragh. She has since held her own in better races including when third at York last time. William Buick is an eyecatching booking too. Bermuda Longtail looked promising when beaten half a length in a York Listed contest last month and has much more to come. She gets plenty of weight for age too. Skellet progressed last season and is another who should be capable of better for Ralph Beckett. 1.35 DOCKLANDS has some fancy Group 1 form including his second in the Queen Anne at last year's Royal Ascot. He was sent all over the globe after that with solid results and ran a solid comeback at Ascot last time. He'll be fitter for that and has won on quick and slow ground. Persica didn't fire in the Lockinge last time but took a Newmarket Group 3 easily enough on comeback and has won here before. Ryan Moore's a good booking and he's a big threat. Royal Playwright gets the best part of a stone from his older rivals and didn't get the run of the race in the Dante last time. He could take a major step forward here. Royal Dubai wasn't disgraced at Ascot last time and looks the pick of the bigger prices. 2.10 AGAINST THE WIND could be the answer to this tricky puzzle. He has plenty of weight but has been running well with a Thirsk win followed by a fine York third last time. He gets away quickly so should be suited by this track. Naana's Sparkle ran a nice race at Goodwood last time when third and showed lots of pace. He looks on a fair mark. Ruby's Profit got the better of Mademoiselle in that race and they should both be right at home here too after showing a lot of boot. Tees Aggregates saves his best for Catterick so should love Epsom which is another tricky track. He may not be quite good enough to win but could be an each-way bet if you can get extra places. Blinky won a couple on the all-weather before a decent third at Chester last time. A repeat of that would put him in the place picture from what should be an ideal draw. 2.45 JER BATT always faced a tough task from a wide draw at Chester last time yet still ran a good race. He has some fine handicap form over this trip yet is still on a fair weight and the booking of Oisin Murphy is a plus. He'll be right there. Clarendon House is quirky but has enough quality to figure if he fancies it. He went well in the Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket last time. Last year's winner Dream Composer was also badly drawn at Chester latest but looked much better when second at Pontefract on comeback. He can figure again. Jm Jungle has been placed in hot York handicaps on his past two outings. He likes this trip and is a quick starter so has every chance. Vintage Clarets showed positive signs on the Knavesmire latest and is in the each-way picture too. 3.30 PRIDE OF ARRAS was a brilliant Dante winner at York and has more to come. French raider Midak looks overpriced, while Lambourn would have a say if the rain comes. And you never rule out Ryan Moore on Delacroix, especially as the jockey was simply brilliant on Minnie Hauk in the Oaks. Read my full guide to the field and 1-2-3-4 prediction here. Templegate's tips 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. 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 – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
