DOUBLE HANDFUL

John Shaw’s racing betting column in association with

WHEN news came that Derby favourite Saxon Warrior was drawn in stall one for the big race, an audible noise in the journalists’ room was emitted. It wasn’t an exclamation of surprise, it’s just that I’ve been suffering with a hypoactive bowel for the last few months.

The good news is that nobody could, with any great certainty, align the sound or smell to me.

The more worrying news for supporters of Saxon Warrior is that only three horses have won the race from stall one since 1967, when stalls were first introduced.

It could have been worse, no horse has ever won the race from the balcony either.

Regular readers of this column will know I’m a huge fan of Saxon Warrior. When tipping him to win the 2,000 Guineas, I wrote he was, ‘a star in the making’.

I strongly believe he has every chance of becoming the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to win the Triple Crown. Stall one, though not ideal, shouldn’t be a huge problem to overcome for Ryan Moore, the best jockey in the race on Saxon Warrior, the best horse in the race. There are only 11 other runners, all of whom look ordinary compared to Saxon Warrior, a horse whose exceptional pedigree by Japanese Triple Crown winner Deep Impact out of champion mare Maybe suggest he will stay the trip. Nor should the unique contours and undulations of Epsom hold any fears for Aidan O’Brien’s stable star — he’s raced round Ballydoyle’s replica track at least 40 times according to his trainer. The slight concern is the softening ground, but that should be a worry too for Roaring Lion, clearly the second best horse in the field on form — and he was well beaten by Saxon Warrior in the 2,000 Guineas. The draw and the ground do at least combine to give punters a chance to back potentially one of the best racehorses in history at around 5-6. I will be taking full advantage of that opportunity.