The two day Investec Derby Festival, arguably the pinnacle of the UK Flat season gets under way this Friday. The feature race, the £1.5 million Investec Derby is the richest race in the UK and despite the absence of the 2000 Guineas winner Churchill, the line-up still looks strong in quality. We’ll take a look at this along with The Oaks (Friday) and Coronation Cup. Predictably, the yard of Aidan O’Brien is sending a formidable team across The Irish Sea and it’s not out of the question that the Ballydoyle outfit could clean sweep the Grade One events as predicted by some quarters.
THE INVESTEC DERBY
CRACKSMAN 4:30pm on Saturday 3rd June
John Gosden will be hoping that his leading charge Cracksman will deliver despite missing his intended prep race in The Dante at York earlier this month. There was too much give in the ground and being so close to the Derby, Gosden opted to not risk such exertion on this son of Frankel. His form has also been given a boost after Permian, whom he narrowly beat in the Derby Trial, went on to win at the York Dante Meeting. Will certainly put in bold show and can be picked at 4/1 best, most firms.
CLIFFS OF MOHER 4:30pm on Saturday 3rd June
No Churchill but Aidan O’Brien still has something to useful to offer in the shape of Cliffs Of Moher. He won his Derby in understated fashion at Chester in The £42,000 Dee Stakes and suggested that the 1m 2furlongs at Epsom will suit him just fine. True, he was pushed along at the one mile point but he responded well to win by near 3 lengths with plenty left in hand. I’ve no doubt he will come on for this and one cannot underestimate O’Brien’s record in the Derby with 3 winners out of the last 5 stagings of the race. He’s been steady in the market in recent weeks and trading at around 4/1 best with most firms.
OUTSIDER? 4:30pm on Saturday 3rd June
It’s looking likely that the winner will come out of the front two in the market, however, as an each way option I don’t see much wrong with having a crack at the O’Brien second string, Venice Beach. He ran a decent race in the extended trip of 1 mile 4 furlongs Chester Vase Stakes and clearly appreciated the test of stamina. He’ll certainly get this at Epsom and looks a decent each way proposition at 14/1 with William Hill, bet365 and Coral. However bet365 has the slight value preference based on the 1/4 odds for each way rather than the standard 1/5 for level weights contests.
THE OAKS 4:30pm on Friday 2nd June
The Friday event for just fillies looks to be a fairly foregone conclusion on paper. Rhododendron’s decent second in the 1000 Guineas for the Ballydoyle outfit looks good enough to land this but at short odds of 5/6 best with Boylesports. However, this one of three O’Brien entries crucially has course and distance form having won the Fillies Mile at Epsom last year.
The main danger to Rhododendron could come from the Gosden and Dettori combination with Enable who easily won the Cheshire Oaks last time out at Chester. No doubt he will improve for that run and can be found at best price 6/1 with Paddy Power. Not much else makes great appeal although the O’Brien second string Alluringly should not be ruled out after his second to Enable in the same Chester race. Best backed at 20/1 with Boylesports for the 1/4 odds on offer for each way bets.
THE CORONATION CUP - 3:10pm on Friday 2nd June
Aidan O’Brien demonstrates yet again that when it comes to producing quality horses for the Group One events, he is practically unrivalled. This race for four year olds plus is dominated in the market by Highland Reel who is a short price mainly down to his devastating performance in last season’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot where he made all and kept on impressively to beat Wings Of Desire by a good 2 lengths. If he produces anything near to that, he should land this comfortably. Best priced 13/8 with William Hill and Sky Bet.
I quite like the look of Prize Money running for Goldolphin. He ran a decent race to finish 4 1/2 lengths behind Jack Hobbs in the very valuable Longines Dubai Sheema Classic in the UAE earlier this year. He’s had a good break since March and could easily run into a place at tempting odds. Best backed at 16/1 with Bet Victor, Coral and bet365.
FINAL VERDICT
- Cracksman (4:30pm Sat 3rd June) - 4/1 with bet365 - visit bet365!
- Venice Beach (4:30pm Sat 3rd June) - 14/1 with bet365 - visit bet365!
- Alurringly (4:30pm Fri 2nd June) - 20/1 with Boylesports - visit Boylesports!
- Prize Money (3:10pm Fri 2nd June) - 16/1 with Bet Victor - visit Bet Victor!
Good luck with all best for Investec Derby Festival! If you new to betting on Horse Racing or just want to brush on your race bet strategy take a look at our how to bet on horse racing blog.
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