The Derby Stakes, also known as the Derby or the Epsom Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year, over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres), or about 1½ miles.[1] It was first run in 1780.
It is Britain's richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics.
It is sometimes referred to as the "Blue Riband" of the turf. The race
serves as the middle leg of the historically significant Triple Crown of British horse racing, preceded by the 2000 Guineas and followed by the St Leger,
although the feat of winning all three is rarely attempted in the
modern era due to changing priorities in racing and breeding, and the
demands it places on horses.
The name "Derby" (deriving from the sponsorship of the Earl of Derby) has been borrowed many times, notably by the Kentucky Derby in the United States, and to describe many other key racing and sporting events. The term "Epsom Derby" is often used in the United States and elsewhere, in order to differentiate The Derby from other races such as the Irish Derby or German Derby.[2]
The Derby run at Epsom is usually referred to as "the Derby" in Great
Britain. It is one of Britain's great national sporting events[3] and has a large worldwide TV audience.[4]
race conditions
£1,500,000 guaranteed
For
3yo colts and
fillies NOTE: Horses will only be eligible to run in this race provided
that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday
of the confirmation stage. Horses which do not qualify for a rating may
also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the
horse's racecourse performances up to and including 29 May merit a
provisional assessment of 80 or higher. Horses which have not run will
not be eligible.
Weights
colts 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb
pay
£3,000
Penalty value
1st
£882,407.60
2nd
£334,540.00
3rd
£167,425.60
4th
£83,401.60
5th
£41,856.40
6th
£21,006.00
16 Runners go to post for not the strongest looking DERBY, though still interesting race on ground described as good/soft .
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY: Impressive 4L winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial last time on fast ground , showing improved form stepping up in trip . That form looks solid with third horse (Meydaan) boosting form since, looks open to further improvement over middle distances this season.Best form on good ground .
ANCIENT WISDOM : Useful Two-Year-old ,winning 4 out 5 ,including winning G1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster on heavy ground .Finished staying on 6L second in Dante Stakes at York earlier this month.Best form on soft surface .This longer trip should suit .Solid Each-way claims .
CITY OF TROY : Justify Colt ,Last Years Champion Two-Year-old rated (125), winning 3 out 3, though bitterly disappointing in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this mont, when 4-6 fav, only finishing well beaten 9th .Clearly somthing amiss that day, though never raced further than 7 furlongs.Has to be Question mark about this 12f trip from poor draw in stall one.Best form on G/S or Soft
DANCING GEMINI : Improving sort, winning twice as two-year-old , finished excellent second in French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp earlier this month, though never raced further than mile ,got be doubts about staying this trip .
LOS ANGELES : Unbeaten Camelot colt ,winning 3 out 3 ,including winning 1M 2F G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in France at the end last season .Made winning reappearance in Derby Trial stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month ,staying on well .Looks open to further improvement over this longer trip, best form on soft suface .
MACDUFF : Improving Sea The Stars colt, finished fair fourth in Royal Lodge at Newmarket last season, made promising reappearance in Sandown classic trial, finishing staying on second to Arabian Crown .Looks open to further improvement over this longer trip , best form on good or good/soft .Place claims
BELLUM JUSTUM :Sea The Stars colt. Won 2 out 5, including winning Epsom Derby trial last month, that wasn't the strongest listed contest ,with second well beaten since .will need plenty improvement to figure in this much stronger contest .
DEIRA MILE :Camelot colt, Bits and pieces of form as two-year-old ,including finishing fourth in G1 Futurity stakes , though only victory came in weak 10f Novice Stakes at Windsor .Longer trip may suit , though needs further improvement .
VOYAGE : Golden Horn Colt ,Won 10f maiden at Newbury in good style on his debut start last month , looks promising type, though faces very difficult task on only his second start .
DALLAS STAR : Cloth Of Stars colt ,winning 2 out 6, including winning Ballysax stakes at Leopardstown in April at 50-1 on heavy ground .Bit to find on form, though will be suited by further rain .
EUPHORIC : Frankel Colt, Only victory came in Navan maiden on debut, plenty to find on form ,including finishing behind Los Angeles last time .Looks the Aidan O 'Brien third string .
SAYEDATY SAYDATY : Anodin colt ,only victory came in All Weather 1 mile novice stakes at Kempton last season .Will need big improvement over this longer trip .
GODS WINDOW : Dubawi Colt , winning 2 out 5, bits and pieces of form ,including finishing staying on third in Futurity Stakes behind Ancient Wisdom ,though well beaten in Dante Stakes last time .Plenty to find on form , though will be suited by soft surface .
MR HAMSTEAD : Galileo colt, maiden after three starts, only rated 86. Looks to have very little chance in this group one contest .
KAMBOO : Awtaad colt, won mile maiden on All Weather at Kempton last season , faces very difficult task over this longer trip .
TABLETALK : Camelot colt , been supplemented for the race at cost £75,000 , though only victory came in 10f maiden on All Weather at Chelmsford .Will need big improvement over this longer trip .
TOP FOUR VERDICT :
(1) LOS ANGELES
(2) ANCIENT WISDOM
(3) MACDUFF
(4) AMBIENTE FRIENDLY
A race that revolves around CITY OF TROY .If bouncing back to his two-year-old form .9lb clear on official BHA ratings, though has big question mark over this 12f trip , having only won over 7 furlongs. Has also been done no favours with bad draw in stall one .You can never write off Aiden O Brien getting the horse back to top form, though not for me after such poor run in 2000 Guineas .
The unbeaten Camelot colt LOS ANGELES looks open to plenty more improvement over this longer trip , the form the Derby Trial stakes at Leopardstown is nothing special ,though looked very good prospect last season when winning the group one Criterium de Saint-cloud on only his second start on soft ground . Looks plenty more to come over this 1M 4F trip .
ANCIENT WISDOM looks the main danger, after finishing second in Dante Stakes, though well beaten in the race by Economics, gave big impression this longer trip and easier dround would defiently suit this Dubawi colt .
Of the others MACDUFF & AMBIENTE FRIENDLY look horses that can improve over this 1M 4F trip .Both ran with pleny of promise on there last starts .Solid Place claims.
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RECOMMENDED BET
EPSOM DERBY 4.30 SATURDAY 1ST JUNE 2024
LOS ANGELES
1PT WIN @ BSP 8.80
(THIRD SP 6-1 LOSS 1.00 PT)
ANCIENT WISDOM 4.30 EPSOM DERBY
1PT WIN @ 13-2 WILLIAM HILL.LADBROKES.CORALS.BETFRED
(UNPLACED SP 6-1 LOSS 1.00 PT)
