Tuesday, May 4, 2010
STOUTE’S MYTH COULD FOLLOW KRIS KIN
Saeed Suhail and Sir Michael Stoute teamed up to win the Group One Investec Derby in 2003 with the lightly-raced Kris Kin and the owner and trainer could have another progressive colt with the potential to land the premier Classic at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5.
Desert Myth carried Suhail’s blue and yellow silks to a comfortable victory on his racecourse debut in a 10-furlong maiden at Newmarket on April 14.
The Smart Strike colt could follow the Kris Kin route by attempting to win the 10-furlong Group Three Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at Chester on Friday, May 7, before heading to Epsom Downs, while Saturday’s Group Three totesport Derby Trial over an extended 11 furlongs at Lingfield is also an option.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Suhail, revealed today: “It is possible that Desert Myth could go for the Dee Stakes on Friday or the Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday.
“He has an Investec Derby entry but his Newmarket win leaves him a long way off being a Derby horse at this stage. We will know a lot more about whether he is an Epsom horse if he runs this week.
“We were delighted with his maiden win and we think he is potentially a very nice horse. The second, Deauville Post, came out afterwards and won well enough - in a race he should have won - and he is nowhere near Group class, so Desert Myth will need to improve a lot on that form. But we think he will.
“I haven’t seen him doing anything spectacular on the gallops but Sir Michael would not have put him in these races if he didn’t think he was a decent horse.
“We are confident he will get a mile and half - we actually think he needs a mile and a half.
“Kris Kin came out of nowhere. He won the Dee Stakes and finished up one of the favourites for the Investec Derby on the day. You just never know.”
Stoute has won the Investec Derby on four occasions with Shergar (1981), Shahrastani (1986), Kris Kin (2003) and North Light (2004).
There are Classic clues aplenty this week. The Group Three MBNA Chester Vase on Thursday, May 6, is one of four Investec Derby trials this week, along with the two races being considered for Desert Myth and the Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, May 9.
Chester’s May Meeting also hosts the Listed Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks for Group One Investec Oaks hopefuls on Wednesday, May 5, and Saturday brings the Listed totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial at Lingfield. The Investec Oaks takes place at Epsom Downs on Friday, June 4.
Investec Derby entries engaged in this week’s Derby trials:
MBNA Chester Vase (Chester)
Chink Of Light
Morana
Rocket Man
Ted Spread
Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes (Chester)
Azmeel
Desert Myth
Encompassing
Midas Touch
Morana
Prompter
Rasmy
Tamaathul
totesport.com Derby Trial (Lingfield)
Ameer
Azmeel
Bullet Train
Captain James Cook
Desert Myth
Don Carlos
Gumnd
Hot Prospect
Morana
Rasmy
Ted Spread
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Leopardstown)
At First Sight
Cape Blanco
Midas Touch
Investec Oaks entries engaged in this week’s Oaks Trials:
Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks (Chester)
Champagnelifestyle
Dance On BY
Gertrude Bell
Miss Miracle
totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial (Lingfield)
Ceilidh House
Eldalil
Bebopalula
Bikini Babe
Dyna Waltz
Golden Waters
Blast Furnace
Timepiece
O’BRIEN AIMING TO END SUPERB SEASON AT CHELTENHAM’S HUNTER CHASE EVENING ON WEDNESDAY
Meeting: Hunter Chase Evening
Date: Wednesday (evening), May 5, 2010
Gates Open: 3.30pm
First Race: 5.35pm
After helping his boss Nigel Twiston-Davies saddle Imperial Commander to victory in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at The Festival, leading point-to-point handler Fergal O’Brien is hoping to cap a wonderful campaign with success at Cheltenham’s Hunter Chase Evening tomorrow.
A trio of runners from the Naunton-based permit holder, who doubles up as head lad to Twiston-Davies, includes the eponymously named Fergal’s Find, one of 15 horses declared for the closing Nigel Dimmer Hunters’ Chase (8.25pm). The two mile, five furlong contest marks the retirement of Nigel Dimmer, Cheltenham’s long-standing master of ceremonies in the parade ring. Known for his trademark bowler hat, Nigel has been part of the team at Cheltenham for the last 45 years and began when Nigel’s father, owner of Cheltenham jewellers Martin & Co, saw off competition from Asprey and Garrard to supply the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
O’Brien revealed today: “I bought Fergal’s Find in Ireland for Patricia Duncan and she very kindly named the horse after me - her daughter owns the yard where I train from.
“He won a hunters’ chase at Worcester at the start of last season and was also successful on his latest start at Andoversford on April 18. He’s been a great servant to us and I’m hopeful that he can run another good race tomorrow.”
The chief opposition to Fergal’s Friend is set to include the Jonjo O’Neill-trained pair of Good Company and Bob Hall, who was runner-up in the Listed Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at The Festival in 2007. The Jane Western-trained Distant Thunder also boasts top-quality form, having won the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase for former handler Robert Alner in 2005.
O’Brien also has high hopes for Marblehead, one of 11 declared runners for the Hunt Staff Benefit Society Colin Nash Memorial Hunters’ Chase (7.20pm). The eight-year-old made all of the running to triumph in a hunters’ chase at Leicester on March 12 and chased home Chilling Place on his latest start in the prestigious Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett on April 17.
His trainer reported: “Marblehead has been in good form this year. He won a good hunters’ chase at Leicester and then his second to Chilling Place was a pretty decent effort. He is in good order at the moment and goes to Cheltenham tomorrow with a good chance.”
The O’Brien-trained trio is completed by Bradley, who is among a bumper field of 16 declared for the Connolly Red Mills Intermediate Point-To-Point Championship Final Hunters’ Chase (6.45pm).
O’Brien added: “This year’s race looks like it’s going to be another competitive renewal, just like every year. We weren’t planning to run Bradley but he has come out of his run at Berkeley last week fairly well so we thought that we would let him take his chance.
“I have had a fantastic season with Nigel and the victory of Imperial Commander in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup is an obvious highlight. Khyber Kim ran a blinder to be second in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Baby Run’s success in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase under Sam (Twiston-Davies) was another special moment.
“Hopefully, we can look forward to another successful campaign at Cheltenham over the coming season.”
The Innsworth Technology Park Champion Hunters’ Chase (6.10pm) has attracted a field of eight including the Peter Bowen-trained Take The Stand, who was runner-up to Kicking King in the 2005 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 13-year-old will be joined in the extended three and a quarter mile contest by fellow Cheltenham regular Tikram, whose finest hour came when taking the Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase (now the Byrne Group Festival Plate) at The Festival in 2004.
A field of 20 is set to go to post for the Warners Motor Group Hunters’ Chase (7.55pm), including Haydock Gold Cup scorer Ossmoses, while the action gets underway with the Lady Hooper Hunters’ Chase (5.35pm), which has attracted 18 runners.
The going at Cheltenham is currently GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES. The forecast is for largely dry conditions, with the chance of some light rain on Wednesday evening.
Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing at Cheltenham, commented: “The course is looking in great shape for the final fixture of Cheltenham’s season and with 88 declarations across the six races we are in for a wonderful Amateurs’ finale.
“We watered to maintain conditions up until last Friday and then had more rain than expected over the weekend, with a total of 32 millimetres falling.
“It has been another fantastic year at Cheltenham with great racing throughout. We did not lose any meetings to the weather this year, with the frost covers saving the day for our two fixtures in January.
“The Hunter Chase Evening provides the perfect end to our season and is always well supported. We expect a crowd of over 10,000 tomorrow evening.”
Bob Champion, who famously won the 1981 Grand National aboard Aldaniti, will be in attendance at Cheltenham on Wednesday as part of his Champion’s 60:60 Charity Challenge. The challenge sees him visiting the UK’s 60 racecourses in 60 days, raising money for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and the Injured Jockeys’ Fund. Further information can be found at http://www.champions6060.org.uk/
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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