2 days ago
ITV racing pundit correctly predicts 8,000-1 Derby tricast in big race
Kevin Blake made his selections from studying the runners' stride patterns and applying the data to suggest the outcome of the £1.5million race at Epsom
An ITV Racing pundit pointed viewers to an 8,000-1 Derby tricast on Saturday by correctly predicting the big race 1-2-3. Kevin Blake has devised his own stride data to analyse horses' ability to pick out runners' positive and negative characteristics ahead of the Derby.
As a result he was prepared to dismiss the challenges of the likes of favourite Delacroix and stablemate The Lion In Winter and the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, who was a late non-runner, based on his data.
He summarised his selections for ITV, saying: 'I think this is going to be a high pressure Derby that really examines stamina so number one is what is Aidan O'Brien's apparent third string debatedly Lambourn because he is the one that is guaranteed to stay. I think he is going to stay further than and mile and a half in due course. He'll be forward, he'll make use of that stamina.
'Number two is Tennessee Stud. He was third to Delacroix at Leopardstown, went there very much needing the run. He was a Group 1 winner over a mile and a quarter at two. He will stay, he'll love the ground. He's come forward really well from run at Leopardstown so he's my second choice.
'And Lazy Griff at a massive price, again from the Chester form. He stays really well and that is key.'
READ MORE: Derby 2025: Leading hope Ruling Court forced out of £1.5m race by wet weather
Blake's assessment proved right up to the mark as Lambourn led from start to finish to come home ahead of Lazy Griff and Tennessee Stud. The tricast paid £8,294.72 and the trifecta £3,431.20, at great cost to the bookies.
Coral spokesperson Dave Stephens said: "It may have been the threat of considerable rainfall that sparked the support for the proven stayer Lambourn, but even without a notable downpour, the Cheshire Vase winner controlled the race from start to finish, and an SP of 13-2 confirmed that he was not without support on the biggest betting day of the Flat season," said Coral's David Stevens.
"Whilst the winner alone was not the worst result in the Derby book though, further pain was inflicted by Kevin Blake, who incredibly put up the tricast on ITV's The Opening Show, an outcome that paid a whopping £8,294.72 for £1, and plenty of viewers followed Kevin's advice, to our considerable cost.'
