EARLY NEWS ON DERBY DAY, SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Going, jockey looking forward to riding in first Derby, non-runners, betting and other news

DERBY DAY 2008
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
EPSOM DOWNS, SATURDAY, JUNE 7

PERFECT GROUND IN PROSPECT

The Epsom Downs will be in perfect condition for the Vodafone Derby with the absence of overnight rain and the continuing good weather this morning taking a little more moisture from the ground.

At 10am this morning, Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, sent his team out to take the 60-plus measurements necessary to determine the GoingStick reading which came out at 8.0, confirming the going as GOOD.

The course still walks very similar to yesterday - good, and if anything slightly on the slow side of good - but the GoingStick reading suggests that more moisture has come out of the ground. With no rain forecast, the ground could dry up a little more, said Cooper.

We have also removed the false rail on the far side which was used yesterday and there is fresh ground on the inside from the mile marker to the seven-furlong post, and from the six-furlong post to the finish. This strip is about five yards wide at the mile marker and slightly wider in the straight, said Cooper.

Conditions on the five-furlong course, where the runners come down the hill, are marginally faster.

The water tends to drain towards the inside rail, so the quickest part of the sprint course will be towards the stands rail, where there are the odd good to firm places, said Cooper.

MULRENNAN LOOKING FORWARD TO FIRST VODAFONE DERBY MOUNT

Jockey Paul Mulrennan is looking forward to having his first ride in the Group One Vodafone Derby when he gets the leg up on Alan Devonshire in this afternoons Classic.

The 26-year-old partnered Mark Tompkins charge to finish fourth behind Aidan OBriens Derby contenders Alessandro Volta and King Of Rome in the Lingfield Derby Trial on May 10 and is hoping that the 250/1 outsider can spring a surprise.

I cant wait to ride in the Vodafone Derby - Im really looking forward to it. Ive just walked the track and the ground is perfect for Alan Devonshire, its dried out nicely, said the rider.

Weve no plans yet but weve got a good draw - most of the fancied horses seem to be drawn near me so Ill just try to tag onto Johnny Murtagh!

Its great to be riding in the Vodafone Derby because its probably the biggest Flat race in the world, so Im really looking forward to it.

Im hoping that well get a good run. I dont think hes a 250/1 shot, so hopefully he can give a good account of himself.

RIVER PROUD OUT OF VODAFONE DERBY

River Proud will not run in todays Vodafone Derby.

The Paul Cole-trained colt, supplemented for the race at a cost of £75,000 on Monday, was found to be slightly lame yesterday.

NON-RUNNERS

Race 2 - 2.10pm Woodcote Stakes (Listed Race)
6 Peninsular War

Race 4 - 3.15pm totesport.com Dash (Heritage Handicap)
12 Hows She Cuttin

Race 5 - 4.00pm Vodafone Derby (Group One)
14 River Proud

Race 7 - Princes Stand Handicap
1 Rising Shadow
4 Skhilling Spirit
8 Angus Newz
10 Jilly Why
17 Prince Namid

LOOKING HIGH IN THE DASH

Punters are latching on to logic in the totesport.com Dash Handicap (3.15pm). With grounds conditions in the straight likely to be faster on the stands side, money is coming for the horses drawn high. Race sponsor totesport reports plenty of interest in Hogmaneigh (drawn 17), in from 11/2 to 5/1, and the Stuart Williams-trained horse looks likely to start favourite even though his record suggests he prefers more cut in the ground.

Canadian Danehill (18) has also been a mover with totesport, in from 25/1 to 22/1, while Corals have seen punters opt for Fathom Five (20), 10/1 to 8/1, and Merlins Dancer (19), 18/1 to 14/1. Merlins Dancer has also been backed with Ladbrokes, but the horse spooking that company is the Pricewise selection Evens And Odds (15), from the Kevin Ryan stable. Its been backed from 25/1 to 16/1 and is our nightmare, said David Williams of Ladbrokes.

Just about the only interest in horses drawn lower than 10 in the Dash is with Stan James UK who have seen a significant move for Bond City (9) who is in to 16/1 from 22/1.
Twice in the last four years, Sir Michael Stoute has started Epsom Derby Day with a winner, and odds about the distinguished trainer claiming the Epsom opener again are shortening by the hour. Paddy Power rates Conduit, in the totesportCasino.com handicap (1:40pm), the best-backed horse of the day by miles and have shortened the three-year-old from 13/8 to 11/8. William Hill is showing 5/4 and Stan James stands alone holding Conduit at 6/4.

TARTAN BEARER OF GOOD NEWS?

Sir Michael Stoutes Tartan Bearer has come in for significant support for the Vodafone Derby (4pm) and many of the major firms now expect the colt, who would give Stoute his fifth Vodafone Derby, to start favourite. William Hill still have Tartan Bearer at 11/2, but 5/1 is the best you can get from totesport, Ladbrokes and Corals, while Stan James UK has shortened him to just 9/2. Expect the horse to go even shorter if Conduit takes the opener for the Stoute stable.

Despite the support for Tartan Bearer, Casual Conquest still holds his place at the head of the market. The Dermot Weld-trained horse is available at 4/1 with Hills, totesport and Ladbrokes, though Paddy Power are showing 9/2.

Corals report a near complete lack of interest in New Approach, after plenty of money had come for the Jim Bolger-trained horse earlier in the week. They have eased the horse from 5/1 to 6/1. Curtain Call, from the Luca Cumani stable, is also slipping down the pecking order. Generally thought of as a horse that would benefit from any give, the drying of the ground has seen him easing from 9/2 to 5/1 with Hills.

Henry Cecil, like Stoute, already has four Vodafone Derby winners in the bank and Kandahar Run has more than a few friends in the market who think hell bring the Warren Place handler a fifth. Hills have taken money at 20/1 and totesport, who were showing the same price, have now shortened the horse to 16/1. Damian Walker, at totesport, also expects to see some late money for the Frankie Dettori mount Rio De La Plata. Weve shortened it from 22/1 to 18/1, but it could easily start at 14/1 or less as the public inevitably latch on to Frankie, said Walker.

Stan James UK have decided its time to cut their liabilities on Maidstone Mixture and have halved the horses odds. If you want to back the Paul Murphy-trained horse with that company now, youll only get 500/1. Dont worry though, theres plenty of 1000/1 available elsewhere.

LOOK HERE ENDS 170-YEAR OAKS DROUGHT FOR SENIOR STEWARDS

Yesterdays Juddmonte Oaks winner Look Here, carrying the colours of her breeder Julian Richmond-Watson, ended a 170-year drought in the fillies Classic for Jockey Club Senior Stewards.

Richmond-Watson is the first serving Senior Steward to win the Oaks since the Earl of Chesterfields Industry was saddled to victory by John Scott in 1838.

The Earl of Chesterfield was the first elected Senior Steward of the Jockey Club while Richmond-Watson took on the role in July, 2003, and retires next year.