Epsom Derby - wait before betting Churchill

Churchill
Churchill talk on hold for 'at least a week'
BY BRIAN SHEERIN 8:12PM 8 MAY 2017
Punters keen to give Churchill their Epsom vote have been advised to stay patient by Aidan O'Brien, who revealed an Investec Derby decision will not be made for at least a week.

Superstar juvenile Churchill proved a mile was well within his compass when winning the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, a performance O'Brien viewed as encouraging with regards tackling the world's most celebrated Flat race.

Coolmore's Classic hero is Derby favourite, with his price ranging between 3-1 and 5-1, but connections also have the option of staying at a mile for the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes.

O'Brien said: "When he gets back into full work we'll have a chat with the lads and come up with a plan.

"He seems to be fine and travelled home well, as did the rest of our Newmarket horses. That was his first time up to a mile and he seemed to be fine at that.

"You wouldn't say he won't get further with the way he did it in the Guineas. When you go up to a mile and a half in the Derby you never know until you actually do it, so it's very hard to say at this point, but he did it well on Saturday."

Derrinstown trio impress

Ballydoyle's hunt for more Derby contenders stepped up a notch on home soil on Sunday as Douglas Macarthur accounted for stablemates Yucatan and Capri in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and all three colts remain in the Derby picture.

O'Brien said: "We were very happy with Douglas Macarthur, Yucatan and Capri.

"We felt all three of them ran solid races and they're still very much in the Derby programme. We didn't see anything that suggested anything different at the moment anyway."

O'Brien added it would be a similar story for 1,000 Guineas winner Winter and runner-up Rhododendron for the Oaks, stating his intention to step the latter up in trip.

He said: "The next week or ten days will tell us a lot with Winter and Rhododendron as well.

"Rhododendron ran very well in defeat and has the option of the Irish 1,000 Guineas or the Oaks at Epsom.

"This year she probably wouldn't be able to do the two because both races are very close together.

"We always thought she would stay much further than a mile. She even stayed a mile well as a two-year-old, so there's no reason why she wouldn't step up in trip."

O'Brien reported Minding to be on track for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 28, while Seventh Heaven is likely to run in the Coronation Cup on June 2.

Forget the Derby, it's the best 5 furlong dash in the world that I am looking forward to must. What a race that has been year in and year out

Aidan O’Brien has given his strongest indication yet that 2,000 Guineas winner Churchill will stick to a mile for the time being rather than step up in trip to tackle the Investec Derby on June 3.

It's still around 4/1 with most bookies

Dave Scott wrote: Aidan O’Brien has given his strongest indication yet that 2,000 Guineas winner Churchill will stick to a mile for the time being rather than step up in trip to tackle the Investec Derby on June 3.

It's still around 4/1 with most bookies

O'Brien could have as many as 12 runners in the race, thats how dominant his runners are at the moment.

Cliffs of Moher looks best 9/2

Dave Scott wrote: Cliffs of Moher looks best 9/2

The horse that Admiral Moore picks to ride will win the race :woohoo:

Bookmakers reacted significantly to Dubai Thunder's ten-length demolition of the field in a 1m2f maiden at Newbury on Friday, with the Godolphin colt as short as 14-1 and top-priced at 25-1 with William Hill for next month's Investec Derby.

Dubai Thunder, trained by Saeed bin Suroor was cut from a general 50-1 after his stunning debut.

Jockey Adam Kirby said: "He's very nice. He was very babyish beforehand and a bit randy, but he's got a serious engine. He liked getting his toe in, but I'm not saying he needs it soft. He's got class."

Asked if the Derby was a million miles away, he added: "All I can say is he's a horse with a big engine."

A similar gamble took place last year after this race, which was won by Sir Michael Stoute's Ulysses by eight lengths. He he went on to finish down the field at Epsom behind subsequent scorer Harzand.

Cliffs Of Moher, winner of the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester last week, has been cut into 7-2 favourite (from 5) by Ladbrokes for next month's Epsom showpiece.