Latest news with #Lambourn
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
The Lion In Winter drawn widest of all in Derby
The Lion In Winter will have to defy stall 19 if the one-time ante-post favourite for the Betfred Derby is to bounce back at Epsom, where he has been overlooked by Ryan Moore in favour of Delacroix. Aidan O'Brien's colt — who will be ridden by Colin Keane — lost his unbeaten record in the Dante and as well as aiming to emulate Workforce in overcoming defeat at York to prevail in the blue riband, he now has the widest draw of all to overcome. Stablemate and current market leader Delacroix fared only marginally better in stall 14, while O'Brien's third representative, Lambourn, the Chester Vase winner, is in stall 10 under Wayne Lordan. Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court drew stall seven, as the Godolphin runner attempts to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive. For the first time ever, the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation ahead of the premier Classic. There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor's Tornado Alert (11), fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed's operation. Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials, but he is posted wide in 16, with stablemate Stanhope Gardens on the inside in two. John and Thady Gosden also have two contenders with Damysus (15) and Nightwalker (five), who were second and fifth in the Dante. There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak (four) and Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground (17), with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday. Midak will sport the famous silks of the Aga Khan Studs in the premier Classic, which is this year run in honour of the late Aga Khan IV, and connections are daring to dream he has the right attributes to justify his £75,000 supplementary fee. "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 (jockey) thinks he will handle the track because he's well balanced but you never know until they get there. "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." Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff (three), second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm (eight), the mount of Billy Loughnane. Al Wasl Storm (13), Nightime Dancer (nine), Rogue Impact (one), Sea Scout (18), Tennessee Stud (12) and Tuscan Hills (six) complete the list. Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper expects the ground to ride on the easy side of good at the weekend. He said "It's been a difficult spring, it's been so dry, this is my 30th Derby and I've never known such a prolonged dry period. "It's been challenging, it hasn't been great for grass, it's been constant irrigation just to get where we want to be. "Here and now I would call it good, that follows 3.5 millimetres of rain yesterday afternoon which was forecast but very localised. "It looks like another spell of rain is coming tomorrow and Saturday, with the potential to have some heavy showers. It's unsettled for sure. On a raceday it doesn't take a lot to start shifting descriptions. "I can't see a scenario with ground any quicker than good on Saturday and there's every indication we'll be on the slower side through the two days."
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Climate
- North Wales Chronicle
The Lion In Winter drawn widest of all at Epsom
Aidan O'Brien's colt – who will be ridden by Colin Keane – lost his unbeaten record in the Dante and as well as aiming to emulate Workforce in overcoming defeat at York to prevail in the blue riband, he now has the widest draw of all to overcome. Stablemate and current market leader Delacroix fared only marginally better in stall 14, while O'Brien's third representative, Lambourn, the Chester Vase winner, is in stall 10 under Wayne Lordan. Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court drew stall seven, as the Godolphin runner attempts to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive. For the first time ever, the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation ahead of the premier Classic. There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor's Tornado Alert (11), fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed's operation. Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials, but he is posted wide in 16, with stablemate Stanhope Gardens on the inside in two. John and Thady Gosden also have multiple chances with Damysus (15) and Nightwalker (five), who were second and fifth in the Dante. There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak (four) and Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground (17), with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday. Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff (three), second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm (eight), the mount of Billy Loughnane. Al Wasl Storm (13), Nightime Dancer (nine), Rogue Impact (one), Sea Scout (18), Tennessee Stud (12) and Tuscan Hills (six) complete the list. Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper expects the ground to ride on the easy side of good at the weekend. He told Racing TV: 'It's been a difficult spring, it's been so dry, this is my 30th Derby and I've never known such a prolonged dry period. 'It's been challenging, it hasn't been great for grass, it's been constant irrigation just to get where we want to be. 'Here and now I would call it good, that follows 3.5 millimetres of rain yesterday afternoon which was forecast but very localised. 'It looks like another spell of rain is coming tomorrow and Saturday, with the potential to have some heavy showers. It's unsettled for sure. On a raceday it doesn't take a lot to start shifting descriptions. 'I can't see a scenario with ground any quicker than good on Saturday and there's every indication we'll be on the slower side through the two days.'
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
The Lion In Winter drawn widest of all at Epsom
Aidan O'Brien's colt – who will be ridden by Colin Keane – lost his unbeaten record in the Dante and as well as aiming to emulate Workforce in overcoming defeat at York to prevail in the blue riband, he now has the widest draw of all to overcome. Stablemate and current market leader Delacroix fared only marginally better in stall 14, while O'Brien's third representative, Lambourn, the Chester Vase winner, is in stall 10. Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court drew stall seven, as the Godolphin runner attempts to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive. For the first time ever, the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation ahead of the premier Classic. There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor's Tornado Alert (11), fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed's operation. Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials, but he is posted wide in 16, with stablemate Stanhope Gardens on the inside in two. John and Thady Gosden also have multiple chances with Damysus (15) and Nightwalker (five), who were second and fifth in the Dante. There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak (four) and Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground (17), with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday. Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff (three), second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm (eight), the mount of Billy Loughnane. Al Wasl Storm (13), Nightime Dancer (nine), Rogue Impact (one), Sea Scout (18), Tennessee Stud (12) and Tuscan Hills (six) complete the list. Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper expects the ground to ride on the easy side of good at the weekend. He told Racing TV: 'It's been a difficult spring, it's been so dry, this is my 30th Derby and I've never known such a prolonged dry period. 'It's been challenging, it hasn't been great for grass, it's been constant irrigation just to get where we want to be. 'Here and now I would call it good, that follows 3.5 millimetres of rain yesterday afternoon which was forecast but very localised. 'It looks like another spell of rain is coming tomorrow and Saturday, with the potential to have some heavy showers. It's unsettled for sure. On a raceday it doesn't take a lot to start shifting descriptions. 'I can't see a scenario with ground any quicker than good on Saturday and there's every indication we'll be on the slower side through the two days.'
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Ruling Court leads 19 contenders for Derby crown
For the first time ever the race was subject to 72-hour declarations, with Epsom hoping the change helps to build anticipation as the Godolphin runner attempts to keep his Triple Crown dreams alive. There will be a second runner in the Godolphin blue as Saeed bin Suroor's Tornado Alert, fourth in the Guineas, also runs for Sheikh Mohammed's operation. Aidan O'Brien has three leading contenders in Delacroix, winner of the two best Derby trials in Ireland, The Lion In Winter, who was favourite for the race all winter and Lambourn, successful in the Chester Vase. Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras has plenty of followers as he arrives unbeaten and a smooth winner of the Dante at York, which is traditionally one of the strongest trials. Beckett also runs Stanhope Gardens. John and Thady Gosden also have multiple chances with Damysus and Nightwalker, who were second and fifth in the Dante. There are two runners from France in Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak and Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground, with the pair both supplemented for the race on Monday. Charlie Johnston has declared both Lazy Griff, second to Lambourn at Chester, and Green Storm, the mount of Billy Loughnane. Al Wasl Storm, Nightime Dancer, Rogue Impact, Sea Scout, Tennessee Stud and Tuscan Hills complete the list.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
The 2025 Epsom Derby: My guide to the runners and riders
Ryan Moore will ride Delacroix, the favourite for the 246th Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday when 19 runners, the biggest field assembled for the Classic since Kris Kin won it in 2003, will go to post. If there was not much in it for Moore between Delacroix and The Lion in Winter, the over-winter favourite who blew his lines in the Dante, the draw might have been the deciding factor. Delacroix, the winner of both his trials, landed in stall 14 with The Lion In Winter due to come out of stall 19 on the wide outside, a draw considered unfavourable in some quarters. Aidan O'Brien has gone outside his regular Ballydoyle roster of riders with Colin Keane, the Irish champion fresh from winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas, on The Lion In Winter. I am not sure it is the worst draw for the colt as he will either have to go forward or, more likely, have no choice but to drop in where he will be assured cover for the first two furlongs round a slight right-handed dog leg. Lambourn, Aidan O'Brien's third string, has drawn the 'lucky' stall 10 where 10 previous winners have been launched from since starting stalls first introduced in 1967. The Dante winner Pride of Arras is two wider than Delacroix in stall 16. Ruling Court, the 2,000 Guineas winner who is vying for favouritism with Delacroix, has the best draw of the fancied runners in stall 7. Puppet Master, a fourth Ballydoyle runner, was the only one of the 20 five-day confirmations not to go forward to Saturday's race at the new 72 hour stage. The ground, after the longest dry spring in over 30 years, is expected to be good, the weather over the two day Festival expected to be showery. Derby 2025: confirmed runners and riders Delacroix 5/2 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Smartish two-year-old who beat Stanhope Gardens in the Autumn Stakes. Better three-year-old winning both his trials at Leopardstown comfortably beating Lambourn and Tennessee Stud in those. By Dubawi, a brilliant sire yet to breed a Derby winner. Worthy favourite. Ruling Court 3/1 Trainer: Charlie Appleby Jockey: William Buick If this gives Charlie Appleby a third Derby, then everyone will say it's obvious and it adds hugely to the race having the 2,000 Guineas winner in the field. Runner up from Newmarket went and won the Irish 2,000 so form is strong. Bred to get a mile and a half, by Justify, sire of last year's winner City of Troy, but was he screaming out for another half mile? Not totally sure he was. Pride of Arras 5/1 Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Rossa Ryan Went to York unconsidered for the Dante on his first start at three and a 66-1 shot for Epsom. Now third favourite. Inexperience (one previous winning start at two) proved no barrier when he went through a small to non-existent gap to come home a length and a quarter in front of Damysus. Along with Midak only unbeaten colt in race. Five star chance. The Lion In Winter 6/1 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Jockey: Colin Keane Has worn the title 'over-winter favourite' for the Derby like an albatross round his neck. Held up in the spring, he needed the run in the Dante but blew any chance by over-racing early. That might have taken the freshness off him and we all know that O'Brien can turn one round in a short window but the lack of almost any market support since is a bigger worry from that outfit. Damysus 11/1 Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: James Doyle Winner on the all-weather at two and placed in two trials at three, running on well behind Pride of Arras in the Dante. Dam won over a mile and a half and Frankel colts get a mile and a half so could improve for trip. Qatari owners have made a splash at Royal Ascot but yet to do so in a domestic Classic. Lambourn 14/1 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Jockey: TBC Not opening the batting for the Ballydoyle team today. Held by Delacroix on their Ballysax form although he went on to win Chester Vase. Proven at the Derby trip is a plus though as plenty of his rivals won't get it. Midak 14/1 Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard Jockey: Mickael Barzalona Supplemented on Monday. Well, stranger things have happened than a horse winning whose late owner is commemorated in the title of this year's race. Unbeaten in three starts at three but never ran at two. Won the Prix Greffulhe last time, same race as Pour Moi, last French winner, on his way to Epsom. Midak remains unbeaten with a straight-forward success in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud!🇫🇷 Another progressive type for @GraffardRacing and @AgaKhanStuds! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 9, 2025 Stanhope Gardens 16/1 Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Hector Crouch Interesting runner and somewhat unknown quantity from the same stable as Pride of Arras. Only a neck behind Delacroix at two puts him right in the picture. Had little more than a racecourse gallop in a three runner race at Salisbury a fortnight ago which should have blown the cobwebs away. If there's a double figure odds winner, he is the most likely. Nightwalker 33/1 Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Tom Marquand Well behind Delacroix when they met at two. Blew the start in the Dante but was doing his best work at the finish in fifth. Hard to see him making a huge impact round here and probably owes his less than generous price (20-1) to his connections. Dam did not get a yard beyond six furlongs but was a half-sister to a St Leger winner - work that one out. Tennessee Stud 33/1 Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle Flat, jump, Ireland, Britain or Australia it makes no odds to his young trainer. A group One winner at two – the one thing this Derby lacks – in the mud, he has a lot of ground to make up on Delacroix on their last start. Needs rain. Tornado Alert 33/1 Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor Jockey: Oisin Murphy Fourth in the Guineas, goes the old saying, wins the Derby. Personally I think, by Too Darn Hot, he will be treading water in the last quarter mile but his trainer, who won this with Lammtarra in 1995, six years before the first of Aidan O'Brien's 10, is keen. New Ground 50/1 Trainer: Henri-Francois Devin Jockey: Alexis Pouchin French runner also supplemented on Monday. Appears to like some cut in the ground so might be praying for rain. Horse that beat him a length in April was runner-up in French Derby on Sunday. By the same sire as Pride of Arras, should improve for trip and owners would not just be running for social outing so quietly respected without looking the likely winner. Tuscan Hills 66/1 Trainer: Raphael Freire Jockey: David Egan Unbeaten in two starts at two but only seventh behind Pride of Arras in the Dante. Obviously he is entitled to come on for that but he has a lot to find. Owner Kia Joorabchian has gone close before with King of Steel who was also a 66-1 shot. Trainer would become the first Brazilian-born trainer to win the race in its 246 year history. Green Storm 100/1 Trainer: Charlie Johnston Jockey: Billy Loughnane Cost a snip at 12,000gns as a yearling but only one win from six starts puts him in here at 100-1. Does not have the pedigree nor the form to cause an Epsom upset and become the first Yorkshire trained winner since Dante in 1946. Any major influence on the race is likely to be getting in the way of something better. Lazy Griff 150/1 Trainer: Charlie Johnston Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Opened his account last summer at Beverley (as did Stanhope Gardens) and I am not sure how many Derby winners have done that. Beaten by Lambourn in the Chester Vase but is entitled to come on for that race without necessarily reversing the form. Ridden by the French maestro Christophe Soumillon whose CV pretty much only lacks the Derby. Sea Scout 100/1 Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford Jockey: Harry Davies Won the Epsom trial but put pretty firmly in his place in the Dante without any real excuse. Had already proven he can handle the track which is one thing but the Epsom trial does not have a great record at producing Derby winners in the modern era. Al Wasl Storm 150/1 Trainer: Owen Burrows Jockey: David Probert Silks responsible for a number of long priced runners-up in the race. Bred to get any trip, a mile and a half being the minimum. Owner entitled to tilt at windmills given record but this one might, in time, be better off with a few fences in front of him. Nightime Dancer 150/1 Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Sean Levey No match for two Ballydoyle runners in the Lingfield trial including Puppet Master. Trip should be fine but not good enough although there is invariably a big long shot who finishes in the money. Rogue Impact 250/1 Trainer: James Owen Jockey: Luke Morris Beat Al Wasl Storm in a maiden on the all-weather but 10 lengths behind Puppet Master in the Lingfield Trial getting very lit up in the race. Even if he handles the occasion, it is unlikely Luke Morris will be able to add this to his Arc win on Alborada.
