YOUR DERBY GUIDE
Saxon Warrior will take some beating but our man can sense a shock
Trying to stop Aidan O’Brien winning Classic races is a somewhat fruitless exercise, but the draw gods have tried their hardest to halt Saxon Warrior’s charge in today’s investec Derby.
More than 100 horses drawn in stall one have attempted to win over a mile-and-a-half at Epsom in double-figure fields since the turn of the century and none have succeeded. That is ominous for backers of the impressive 2,000 guineas winner.
Does Saxon Warrior possess the required qualities to overcome what appears a big handicap? yes, of course he does. That fluent newmarket victory is
fresh in the mind and we witnessed a special horse at HQ last month. However, is he so good he can take the step up to 12 furlongs on tacky ground and overcome every eventuality presented from a poor draw? Maybe not and, at around even money, I would rather not pay to find out, given tactics played a huge part at Epsom yesterday. The stands rail was a golden highway on Oaks day, so Dee Ex Bee could prove a shrewd each-way play given he has solid experience of the track and improved markedly for the step up to a mile-and-a-half in the Chester Vase. However, he was cosily beaten on the Roodee by
YOUNG RASCAL (Epsom, 4.30), who was only hitting top stride crossing the line, so there could be more to come now he faces a truer stamina test. The first five furlongs of the Derby are on a stiff gradient and Young Rascal should appreciate the examination. The cut in the ground should also help a horse with a pronounced knee action. Also, his handler has only run three horses in the Derby and they resulted in a victory with Shaamit (1996) and a third place three years ago.