Dark horses on Day 2 at Epsom....

Friday, 3rd June 2022

Dark horses on Day 2 at Epsom….

At a time when small-fields have become much more prevalent across the game – in Britain at least – the field-sizes in the handicaps set to be run at Epsom over the next 24-hours are to be admired….

And it’s not just the handicaps. It’s great that we also get to see a more old-fashioned-type Derby this time around – with 17 going to post. Only three times this century have there been more runners in the blue riband contest….

Lester Piggott’s death this week took me back to the first Derby I got involved with – the 1983 edition won by Piggott on Teenoso….

It’s hard to believe that was almost 40-years ago. I had my 10p e/w on a horse called Salmon Leap – which finished nowhere….

Of course, backing plenty of horses that finish nowhere when you are young is the best practice you can get for doing much the same thing when you are getting old….

Johnny Drama’s performance at Redcar yesterday – after I’d put him up for the Zetland – was one of those that might have you on the phone to the Samaritans. Enough said….

Let’s move on to tomorrow’s action….

• In the Derby – 4.30....

For all its glamour and the big build-up that surrounds the race, the Derby rarely produces the best 3yo performance of the season….

You could make the argument that the race is run over too far, too early in the season and on a track that you almost certainly wouldn’t pick out if you were designing the race in 2022….

But the race is what it is precisely because of those features and the challenge they present – in combination – to each season’s classic crop of highly-regarded colts….

And, of course, the race – in addition to producing winners who go down in history – also serves as a proper stallion maker for the industry. The race is a reputation maker – on and off the track….

Sires Galileo and Montjeu have done well out of the race. Sea The Stars and Frankel look likely to be big players in the years ahead….

One top-drawer sire that hasn’t managed to produce a Derby winner is Dubawi. But I reckon he’s got a big ‘live’ dark horse in tomorrow’s renewal in the shape of WALK OF STARS – up at a general 18s….

He got beaten in the trial at Lingfield where he showed signs of mental immaturity – darting about in the late stages of the race and clearly not giving it 100%....

But on the flip side of that observation there is another that comes to mind: there is plenty more to come from him – as and when he knuckles down to the job….

And I’m minded of the positive reports emerging from Godolphin about how far this colt has come on mentally in the meantime….

Charlie Appleby was talking about it earlier in the week. Kieren Fallon mentioned it whilst helping Nick Luck with the draw for the Derby on Racing TV yesterday….

Walk Of Stars is still young and he’s still learning. And the hullabaloo at Epsom will serve to test any mental fragilities that remain….

But this horse has a fine pedigree, a great engine, he offers his rider options in terms of tactics, he’ll stay the 12f strong, and he handled the track at Lingfield – which bodes well with regard to Epsom’s various idiosyncrasies….

If his head is right and he’s ready to put in a proper shift then he could well be a mighty improver at a price….

And let’s not forget that racing – like almost everything else – works in cycles and that the Godolphin operation is back on the up. As far as British classics are concerned, they’ve won the Derby twice, a St Leger and a 2000 Guineas since 2018….

They’ve got plenty of high-quality horses and confidence in those horses and the operation that gets them out onto the track for these top races will be high….

They demonstrated last year – with Adayar – that there’s the potential for more than one live bullet in the barrel. At the 18s, I’m happy to bet that Walk Of Stars is a live bullet at a price this time around….

Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. Betway are 1/5 the first 5. It’s 1/5 the first 4 generally….

• In the Dash – 3.45....

Young horses haven’t coped too well in the Dash in recent times – but the market’s paying no heed to that and Adam West’s 3yo Live In The Dream is very prominent in the betting….

Fair enough. But I’m much more interested in West’s other runner LIVE IN THE MOMENT – who can be backed at the general 14s….

At the end of last season he was rated 101. Now – after a campaign in Meydan (where he showed plenty of speed but ultimately found it tough against better horses) and a stone-last finish at Goodwood on seasonal return – he’s rated just 90….

I don’t know quite what happened at Goodwood. He showed up fine for a long way – before losing his place. Perhaps he needed the run. Perhaps he hated the track – as some horses do. But he wasn’t given a tough time when beaten and it certainly wasn’t his true running….

He’s got to bounce back – for sure. But – at the price – I’m happy to take the bet that he will. 90 is a very dangerous mark for this horse….

For my money he’s the best handicapped horse in the race and if he’s on-song he’s a player – and I don’t think stall 6 will be a problem either….

He’ll have favourite Fine Wine on his outer and that pair are both quick enough to get across to the stands rail and get good position early doors….

Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet & Betway are 1/5 the first 7. William Hill & Boylesports are 1/5 the first 6. It’s 1/5 the first 5 generally….

• The final word….

That’s all for today. Back next time. Meanwhile….

Anything to report? Anything to say? Anything to share? Contact me at: nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd