Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DUBAI MILE CAN GO EXTRA YARD FOR JOHNSTON
JOIN the Mile high club for the Betfred Derby.
Backing DUBAI MILE
(1.30) is the way to get your Classic kicks in the world’s most famous Flat race.
He only went down by half a length to The Foxes in the Royal Lodge Stakes last season before beating Arrest over 1m2f in the Criterium de Saint-cloud last October.
The return to a mile in the 2,000 Guineas was never going to help, so it was a good effort to finish fifth behind Chaldean on his return to action.
He should take a big step forward for that comeback run and he is going to love the move up to 1m4f for the first time.
With question marks about those at the top of the betting it is hard to understand why Charlie Johnston’s Derby hope is 18-1.
Have 2pts each-way. Most bookies are paying out on four places with Sky Bet stretching to five.
It’s going to be fast and furious later on with not one but two ‘Dashes’.
Epsom has the quickest 5f course in the country and you need a rapid horse to cope with its demands.
MISS BRAZEN (2.45) has loads of pace and she runs in the three-yearold’s version of the sprint.
She made her challenge a fraction too soon at York two weeks ago when a high draw wasn’t exactly much of a help.
That was a decent effort and she should continue to keep on improving after just three starts since joining Mick and David Easterby. Have 1pt each-way at 11-1.
ANGLE LAND (3.20) notched up her sixth career win when successful at
Goodwood last week.
That was a smooth performance from Robert Cowell’s speedster and she just keeps getting better.
Her high draw towards the stands’ side in stall 17 could be a help in this big-field sprint handicap.
Have 1pt each-way at
A couple of bookies are going six places with Sky Bet offering seven. (5.05) ran a cracker when third behind Probe on his return at Newmarket last month.
He should be able to reverse that form with the freshness knocked out of him and he is 7lb better off at the weights this time.
His Listed win a couple of years ago shows he has stacks of class and he has become nicely handicapped. Have 2pts to win at 7-1.