The Epsom Derby - as it happened

Saturday, 06, Jun 2009 06:00

One of the highlights of the British horse racing calendar, the Derby, ran at Epsom today (Saturday June 6th). And inthenews.co.uk was on hand to bring you all the action, live, as it happened.

By Chris Bryant and Craig Kemp

17:30 As a final word on the day, anybody slightly down that they have been hit in the pocket by today's action may want to spare a small thought for bookmaker Paddy Power, which will be paying out over £2 million to punters after Sea The Stars' success.

A spokesman said: "Every man, woman and their dog seemed to be on." Shame I wasn't!

17:20 Punters may not be heading home from Epsom with a last-race winner as Liam Jones completed a double on the card for Karl Burke, who earlier had a 14/1 success with Corporal Maddox. The well-backed Mac Gille Eoin was just beaten into second, while Something ran on for third.

A slight hard-luck story may have been Aye Aye Digby, who looked to be blocked of a run on at least three occasions down the home stretch and it would be no surprise if he bounced back with a win next time.

17:16 Baldemar a shock 33/1 winner of the last.

17:08: Further reflection from the Derby has been made with Black Bear Island's mount Ryan Moore stating that the pace was "too steady", while more positively, Jamie Spencer was "pleased" with the efforts of Crowded House, the first English-trained horse home in sixth, and Jimmy Fortune believes that Debussy "ran a blinder", which was probably the best of his career in eighth.

17:03 So we now come to the final race of the day, the Investec Distinctive Stakes, a Class 2 handicap. Fergus Sweeney's mount Aye Aye Digby is the 4/1 favourite, ahead of Mac Gille Eoin at 11/2 and Van Bossed, who is a 15/2 chance.

16:58 Reports have suggested that Fame and Glory's late move to favourite was largely down to the actions of one punter, who placed two separate £50,000 bets on the Derrinstown Stud Trial winner at the race course. Ouch.

16:47 Some of the Derby jockeys have been reacting to the performances of their mounts. Seamus Heffernan, rider of beaten favourite Fame And Glory, said: "I stayed going well but he (Sea The Stars) quickened and I didn't."

Richard Hughes, who guided Masterofthehorse to third in the race, said his horse ran "a great race", a view also expressed by Johnny Murtagh in relation to fourth-placed Rip Van Winkle's run.

16:41 Dettori was forced to settle for second place on Drill Sergeant after a tough battle down the hill, with Martyr third and Storyland fourth.

16:38 The sixth race of the day is won in impressive fashion by the 6/1 shot Coin Of The Realm under Pat Hobbs.

16:36 Following that stunning victory, William Hill now rates Sea The Stars as 3/1 favourite for the King George, 4/1 favourite for the Arc de Triomphe and at 5/4 to win the Triple Crown in the St Leger. Paddy Power makes the colt 3/1 favourite for the Arc.

16:31 Amid all the hype, we actually have another race coming up, the 16:30 Investec Surefooted Stakes, run over 1m 4f 10y. Hot Diamond is the hot favourite at 9/2, with Martyr (6/1) and Frankie Dettori's Drill Sergeant (13/2) coming next.

16:16 Kinnane has explained that the win was particularly special, coming some 16 years after his first Derby success. "When this horse came around last May, I could barely believe my luck. He's given me a new lease of life," he told the BBC. Turning to the race itself, he said: "He actually over-raced as the others weren't going quick enough for him."

16:11 Down in the winner's enclosure, Mick Kinnane, John Oxx and Christopher Tsui - owner of Sea The Stars - all look thrilled during the presentations.

15:56 John Oxx's Sea The Stars lives up to all the hype and storms home to win the Derby, ahead of Fame And Glory and Masterofthehorse. A hugely impressive ride by Mick Kinane. Rip Van Winkle was fourth, with Golden Sword fifth, meaning Aidan O'Brien is forced to settle for a 2-3-4-5.

15:53 And away they go...

15:50 Some dramatic late developments in the betting as Fame And Glory is now the 9/4 favourite. Masterofthehorse has shortened from 20/1 to 16/1 and Black Bear Island has moved from 13/2 to 7/1.

15:37 Gan Amhras looks very unsettled as he heads for the stalls.

15:30 So, the tension is building here with little over 15 minutes to go until the big one. We have already heard that one bookmaker has laid Sea The Stars at 3/1 for £10,000. He is still the favourite at 11/4, with Aidan O'Brien's Fame And Glory second favourite at 7/2. O'Brien has half the field and could also secure victory through Black Bear Island (13/2) and Johnny Murtagh's mount Rip Van Winkle (13/2). Gan Amhras, trained by Jim Bolger, is also appealing at 8/1. Who's your money on?

15:23 Jim Crowley has praised the "fantastic attitude" of Corporal Maddox after seeing him land the Investec Woodcote Stakes. The 14/1 shot overcome a sloppy start to triumph and the jockey said: "He was drawn in 11 which was not great and then he missed the kick. They went a fari old rattle but he picked up really well."

15:20 Alain de Royer Dupre, trainer of Alnadana was in philosophical mood after seeing his horse finish second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, the third race of the day. "She is not used to a course where it slopes like that and it was a big surprise. She ran well and we don't have any regrets coming here to try," he said.

Meanwhile, connections were pleased with favourite Spacious' third-place finish in her first run of the season and trainer James Fanshawe has revealed that she may be lined up for an appearance at Royal Ascot.

15:07 Luck in running for the 11/1 winner as he somehow found a gap down the inside rail before being produced with a strong finish by Paul Quinn. Mick Kinane had initally seemed to have the race sewn up on the outside but narrowly lost out after a neck-and-neck run to the line. Strike Up The Band was a useful third at 16/1 for each-way backers.

15:03 Photo finish in a tight affair between Captain Dunne and Indian Trail with the latter getting the nod by a nose. Wi Dud was nowhere to be seen.

14:55 Plenty of money now coming in for Captain Dunne, Mick Kinane's mount for the fourth race of the day, which is in from 10/1 to 8/1. The Richard Hannon-trained Cake has shortened from 9/1 to 8/1, while Siren's Gift, with Frankie Dettori on board, is in to 9/1 from 12/1. Safari Mischief, third last year and a strong downhill runner, has a decent draw but has drifted to 10/1. This race looks to be wide open.

14:47 Just seen James and Lorraine from the Apprentice, who felt the full force of Sir Alan Sugar's boot from the hit show last Wednesday. Let's just hope their betting strategy is better than their performance in the boardroom.

14:43 Get the kettle on quick as up next is the Investec 'Dash' Heritage Handicap and believe me they will dash as the three-year-olds prepare for the five-furlong sprint. Analysing the form book may not lead to many clues for this, although a member of our travelling entourage reliably informed us that Wi Dud (7/1) is today's sure thing - got to be better than my tips.

14:37 Sylvester Kirk, trainer of River Captain, was delighted after seeing his horse romp to victory in the day's opening race. There were concerns about his chances after disappointing sixth place behind Aqwaa at Newbury in May, but Kirk said: "He travelled like a dream here. He loves this place."

Kirk also revealed that the three-year-old could now head to Royal Ascot.

14:33 Spacious appears to be travelling smoothly entering the straight but finds nothing when asked for an effort by Murtagh. Meanwhile, a perfect gap opens up the rails for Eva's Request, who finds a little more to fend off the challenge of Alnadana to score quite cosily in the end at 4/1, with the favourite back in third.

14:30 Eva's Request wins it by a length.

14:25 The main challengers to the 2/1 favourite are considered to be Eva's Request and Alnadana, currently trading at 7/2 and 4/1 respectively. Favourite backers are still waiting for their first winner of the day, with my gut feeling saying this could be the one.

14:20 The day's third race sees the season's reappearance of last year's 1,000 Guineas runner-up Spacious. Johnny Murtagh takes over the reigns for the first time on the filly.

14:09 More news on the Derby now. Much has been made of favourite Sea The Stars' stamina and now trainer John Oxx has revealed that he rates his colt as "50-50" to stay the course.

"He has only a 50-50 chance of staying - there is always a big worry about any 2,000 Guineas winner in the Derby," he told BBC Radio Four.

No horse has managed to win the 2,000 Guineas and then the Derby since Nashwan in 1989.

14:07 In complete contrast to the opening affair, Corporal Maddox steams through from the rear to take the spoils. Jim Crowley picked off the opposition on the 14/1 shot after settling towards the rear until entering the straight. Walkingonthemoon (8/1) had initially been set to land the spoils after fighting off Red Avalanche (5/1 fav), who eventually ran on for third.

14:03 Corporal Maddox shows an impressive turn of foot to collar Walkingonthemoon.

13:57 Meanwhile, Jack My Boy has shortened from 12/1 to 9/1. Interestingly, 11 of the last 14 renewals have been won by horses drawn in stalls one to three, occupied today by Mon Brav (14/1), Avon River (25/1) and Red Avalanche.

13:55 Next up is the six-furlong Investec Woodcote Stakes with Desert Auction the current 9/2 joint favourite with Red Avalanche, which may bounce back from defeat at Windsor and could be suited to the expected strong pace.

13:52 For those already looking ahead to the Investec Derby, the field has been decreased to 12 with one of the English challengers South Easter withdrawn by owner Willie Haggis. The Galileo colt was found to be coughing after doing some work prior the race and connections have decided to take it on the chin and pull him out.

13:45 As a pointer for later, the horses that were ridden in a handy position in the first race were the main challengers at the end. Tepmokea led for a large portion, while River Captain spent most of the race in its slipstream before cruising ahead halfway down the home straight. Lasso The Moon was the only horse to feature in the first half-dozen from the rear, although he never really got on terms.

13:36 It's something of a turn up in the Investec Sir Clement Freud Memorial Stakes as 16/1 shot River Captain powers home for victory five lengths clear of Tepmokea, with Lasso The Moon third. History Lesson was fourth, while favourite Marching Time was a disappointing fifth.

13:30 They're off in the first to the delight of the thousands in attendance, as a mighty roar greets the runners as they leave the stalls, with the favourite last in.

13:24 The big mover in the betting for the first race is Tepmokea, which is now down from 12/1 to 8/1.

13:21 Five minutes to go until the first race and anticipation is building. The Queen has arrived, looking as delightful and colourful as ever in an all-pink number with black gloves and she is on time to witness her horse History Lesson take to the start. However, most of the smart money is on Sir Michael Stoute's Marching Time, the 7/2 favourite. Its main contenders in the 1m 2f race are likely to be London Bridge (7/1) and Sam Sharp (9/1).

13:08 - Despite the continuing drizzle, the ground remains good to firm, good in places, the same as yesterday. Only 1mm of rain was recorded early this morning, which may mean that the Investec Derby remains a test of speed rather than simply stamina. Andrew Cooper, director of racing at Epsom Downs, said at 9:30 this morning: "The slightly quicker places were on the home straight and part of the climb in the back straight."

13:00 - Good morning and welcome to the inthenews.co.uk live text commentary from Epsom on Derby day.

It's a dreary old day in south London, so there are more macs than sunhats, but the racing action is all set to continue, so stay tuned!

12:08 - If you're interested in getting the inside track on the latest tips, and the runners and riders, in today's Derby, check out the inthenews.co.uk preview article.