Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions
Jockey William Buick rode in the first race and reported conditions to be softer than ideal for Charlie Appleby's Justify colt.
With plenty of rain forecast, and the potential for it to be torrential, Appleby took the decision to take his stable star out.
'It's very disappointing, he'd been aimed here and he's in great nick, but the ground conditions yesterday were a concern with the filly (Desert Flower in the Oaks) and William said it rode genuine good to soft yesterday,' said Appleby.
'We appreciate it was probably drying out through the course of the day (on Friday), but there was rain overnight on open ground
'We arrived here today with an open mind, William rode in the first and he felt it was genuine good to soft and so did the other jocks.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Lambourn fulfils every expectation of Derby hero Lordan
A lot can happen in 24 hours – just ask Wayne Lordan. On Friday afternoon Oaks victory aboard Whirl was in sight, only to be denied late by Ryan Moore and Minnie Hauk. A day later Betfred Derby glory was his when an inspired front-running ride aboard willing partner Lambourn turned the ultimate test into a formality. However, the Lordan story does not begin and end within two days in June and when the 43-year-old was unshipped by San Antonio half a mile from home in the 2023 Irish Derby, some may have been forgiven for thinking that would be the end of his Classic dreams. Lordan suffered fractures to his legs and elbow, as well as a nasty laceration to his arm in an incident which left him not only knocked out but spending eight months on the sidelines. Lambourn blitzes the opposition for a brilliant Derby triumph. Yet another for that genius Aidan O'Brien — Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) June 7, 2025 It is often said that loyalty is a two-way street and during his darkest days he knew he could count on Aidan O'Brien. The master of Ballydoyle was ready and waiting to repay one of his most trusted lieutenants for years of service and when the moment came, Lordan delivered a sublime ride to provide O'Brien with a record-extending 11th winner of the premier Classic. 'Racing is a tough game and lots of jockeys get injured and thankfully I had the support of Aidan and everybody at Coolmore to help you get back,' said Lordan. 'I suppose when you are coming back to ride horses like this it gives you an even stronger focus and I was lucky I had such a good job to come back to. 'I never wanted to be negative so always told myself I would be fine even when it was tough. I tried to stay focused and got in the gym and just told myself I would soon be back.' When riding for O'Brien it is far from picking up scraps once Moore has had his say from the swelling team of Ballydoyle Classic prospects. But for a man who had finished third for O'Brien aboard Japan (2019) and subsequent Irish Derby hero Los Angeles 12 months ago, there was only one colt for him this time around, as O'Brien explained. 'I knew there were two horses Wayne wanted to ride this weekend and once Ryan knew what he was going to ride, Lambourn and Whirl were the ones Wayne wanted,' said O'Brien. 'When I had been going round the yard in the evening the lads were telling me what was going on and I knew who he wanted which made it very easy for me to put him on. 'Wayne said to me coming out of the parade ring this horse is on fire today and that was before the race. He's given him an unbelievable ride and he's a special fellow.' With Moore and big-race favourite Delacroix only ninth and Irish champion Colin Keane and The Lion In Winter even further adrift, the stage was set for Lordan to steal the show and he had the perfect co-star for what was a spellbinding display in what is arguably still the biggest race of them all. 'He was the first string for me anyway, so I was happy,' explained Lordan. 'When you're getting into racing, this is the race you always want to ride in. I'm lucky that I work for Aidan and get to ride good horses and get opportunities. 'I've run well in the Derby before and lost nothing in defeat, but I'm just glad today it worked out. 'I was happy once I passed the line, but there is always horses flying home here and yesterday I was thought I was going well then Ryan passed me in the last 50 yards. 'I knew the ones coming to get me would have to stay well and there was always chance they would, but thankfully my horse is a tough, genuine horse.' After eight years of working for an operation created to thrive at Epsom in early June, Lordan's winning ride was one perhaps honed to perfection at the Ballydoyle training centre of excellence. Now he has his name etched forever on the long and distinguished roll of honour of the blue riband. O'Brien explained: 'Everything at Ballydoyle is about Epsom and this is how the thoroughbred breed is assessed every year. 'Everything at Ballydoyle is left-handed and every piece of work they do they practice going round our Tattenham Corner, even the sprinters. 'It's the ultimate test really and it has to be that. It's great for Wayne to win the Derby, he's a massive part of our team and he rides so many of our big horses in work. 'He's in every day and it's a privilege to have him. He's so straightforward and such a team player, but he can be ruthless when he has to be and he's strong and determined.'
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Lambourn leads them all a merry dance in the Derby
Viewed in the build up to the premier Classic as a third string for the yard behind the Ryan Moore-ridden 2-1 favourite Delacroix and The Lion In Winter, he led the field down Tattenham Corner and pulled further clear inside the final furlong under Wayne Lordan. Just as he had in the Chester Vase, Charlie Johnston's Lazy Griff (50-1) chased him home, this time three and three-quarter lengths behind the 13-2 winner, with Joseph O'Brien's Tennessee Stud third. The 246th #BetfredDerby belongs to Lambourn 🏆 Aidan O'Brien lands the double of the #EpsomOaks and the Derby 👏#EpsomDerbyFestival | #EpsomDerby — ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 7, 2025 O'Brien said: 'Wayne gave him him an incredible ride. I'm delighted for Wayne, he's a great fellow, he does so much hard work. 'Everybody knew what he was going to do, he's very straightforward, Wayne knew he'd stay so he went forward. 'He's a very fit, genuine horse. He's a typical Australia so it's incredible and I'm delighted for Wayne. 'It's incredible for everyone that we trained Australia to win the Derby and his sire as well, Galileo. I'm just a small part of it, everybody puts in so much, I can't tell you what a privilege it is. 'Australia was a great Derby winner and his horses are so straightforward, just like him. 'Lambourn was second to Delacroix first time out and we took him to Chester and we know you have to be on your game and you have to stay and that's the way he was. Ryan loved him at Chester, but he couldn't ride them all. 'I'd say he's probably an Irish Derby horse, but he will get further as well, he's very uncomplicated. 'Ryan said he got taken out of his ground over halfway so his chance was over, Colin (Keane) said The Lion In Winter wasn't going forward so it was maybe the track or the ground, we'll see. 'Wayne obviously got the fractions 100 per cent and Joseph's horse ran a stormer in third, so it's unbelievable.' O'Brien added: 'We knew he wasn't going to stop and we knew every inch he gained he wasn't going to give back, so it was going to be difficult if you were on the back foot. 'He showed at Chester he doesn't stop and Wayne said he let Ryan have the Oaks yesterday (finished second with Whirl), but he wasn't going to give this one up! 'Everyone knew he was going to go and they were happy for him to go, but it just got a little bit rough back there, that's the way it is. 'He'd been working well since Chester and Dean (Gallagher) has been riding him in his work along with Wayne and they were very happy with him. Ryan can't ride them all, but I think it was always going to be one of the other two, Delacroix or The Lion In Winter.'
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Lambourn leads them all a merry dance in the Derby
Just as he had in the Chester Vase, Charlie Johnston's Lazy Griff (50-1) chased him home, this time three and three-quarter lengths behind the 13-2 winner, with Joseph O'Brien's Tennessee Stud third. O'Brien said: 'Wayne gave him him an incredible ride. I'm delighted for Wayne, he's a great fellow, he does so much hard work. 'Everybody knew what he was going to do, he's very straightforward, Wayne knew he'd stay so he went forward. 'He's a very fit, genuine horse. He's a typical Australia so it's incredible and I'm delighted for Wayne. 'It's incredible for everyone that we trained Australia to win the Derby and his sire as well, Galileo. I'm just a small part of it, everybody puts in so much, I can't tell you what a privilege it is. 'Australia was a great Derby winner and his horses are so straightforward, just like him. Aidan O'Brien congratulates Wayne Lordan aboard Lambourn (PA) 'Lambourn was second to Delacroix first time out and we took him to Chester and we know you have to be on your game and you have to stay and that's the way he was. Ryan loved him at Chester, but he couldn't ride them all. 'I'd say he's probably an Irish Derby horse, but he will get further as well, he's very uncomplicated. 'Ryan said he got taken out of his ground over halfway so his chance was over, Colin (Keane) said The Lion In Winter wasn't going forward so it was maybe the track or the ground, we'll see. 'Wayne obviously got the fractions 100 per cent and Joseph's horse ran a stormer in third, so it's unbelievable.' O'Brien added: 'We knew he wasn't going to stop and we knew every inch he gained he wasn't going to give back, so it was going to be difficult if you were on the back foot. Pat Keating leads Lambourn away (PA) 'He showed at Chester he doesn't stop and Wayne said he let Ryan have the Oaks yesterday (finished second with Whirl), but he wasn't going to give this one up! 'Everyone knew he was going to go and they were happy for him to go, but it just got a little bit rough back there, that's the way it is. 'He'd been working well since Chester and Dean (Gallagher) has been riding him in his work along with Wayne and they were very happy with him. Ryan can't ride them all, but I think it was always going to be one of the other two, Delacroix or The Lion In Winter.'
