Live Racing
1.30pm Virgin Media One & 1.25pm UTV
D-day: London calling with reports of a quarter of a million people swarming like locusts over the Surrey Downs. It’s that date in June, of course, when another evacuation from the capital is just a run-of-the-mill drill. Away from the smog and smouldering city, the masses make merry on the rolling landscape as if delivered from the plague! But Londoners are here and in their element, with all the fun of the fair to beat the band. Who wins the forthcoming action matters little to most, for this is D-day in Cockney-speak, or Derby Day at Epsom.
The famous downs won’t be heaving with humanity this afternoon, while the grandstands are 100,000 short of their usual capacity. Nevertheless, a relaxation of COVID restrictions permits at least 10,000 paying spectators to enter the enclosures. It should be interesting, all the same, to see how many people will be spotted across the downs: “just going for a constitutional, constable!” Anyway, it’s a far cry from last year, when even the magic of television couldn’t conceal that bleak and eerie atmosphere behind closed doors. But we’re in the home stretch now and it won’t be long till all the fans are back, shoulder to shoulder at Lansdowne Road, Crokers, or The Corrib Stand in Ballybrit.
The Epsom Derby (3.30pm) was rst run in 1780 and is by far and away the most prestigious classic on earth, although the racetrack is more of a balancing act for horse and rider. All uphill for the rst half, more undulations from the crest, with a steep camber in the straight; the turn for home is that sweeping bend, Tattenham Corner, hurtling the eld downhill to the last two furlongs where, on fast ground, a horse can clock 50mph. The rest is history. Aiden O’brien bids for an incredible 9th win with his two smashing colts, Bolshoi Ballet and High De nition. Both are impeccably-bred from a family tree that traces back to the great Nijinsky. Jim Bolger saddles Mac Swiney with each-way prospects, while the home side’s main hope is Hurricane Lane, along with this hack’s outsider Mohaafeth. Bolshoi Ballet heads the market at 2/1, and justi es favouritism on form. That should settle it, with stable jockey Ryan Moore on board. Yes, but High De nition is bound to progress from his fast- nishing e ort behind Hurricane Lane last month, ring-rusty as he was and recovering from a low blood count. Today of all days, won’t his blood be up for it? It may be somewhat cavalier to ask how often have we’ve seen Ballydoyle hotpots undone by stablemates? Even in the blue riband itself! For all that, it would be fatuous to search for aws in Bolshoi Ballet, notwithstanding such stats. On the other hand, those in the High De nition camp might equally pro t by backing their fancy without the favourite. A classic scenario where both sides win and the bookmakers cry havoc!
Who ever said you can’t have your cake and eat it?