DERBY DAY: SHAMROCK predicts a good afternoon for the Irish trained runners in this year’s Epsom Derby. He settles on a runner trading at 10 on BETDAQ.
A fair run from the NAP last night, Crafted Jewel, who finished second at 4/1 but I couldn’t have been more wrong with Minding.
Although, like everyone else who layed her I suspect, thought we were on to a winner when she found so much trouble in running.
It’s a wide open Derby but it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a poor renewal or indeed will produce a below average winner.
Harzand has been well supported all week as the rain has fallen on Epsom and I am sticking with the Dermot Weld trained runner.
It’s a shame it wasn’t softer as he seems to relish the mud and has won both his starts this season with ease.
He bolted home by 16 lengths to win his maiden at Cork and then justified favouritism in fine style to win the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown – a key Derby trial and a Group 3 in its own right.
He should improve further having had just three runs and is a win and place nap for me.
It’s hard to predict what will even start favourite. Donn McClean made a good case for Cloth Of Stars who is still something of an unknown quantity and I share DAQMAN’s view that US Army Ranger can’t be written off (as some seemed to) on the back of a WIN at Chester on only his SECOND career start !!! Such is the high expectations of Aidan O’Brien horses that we can easily forget that these horses are relative babies and learning the game.
O’Brien could easily land a place too with his other quartet of which I like Deauville the best.
Jim Bolger runs Moonlight Magic who has done little wrong and won the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes last time out.
Could easily be a VERY good day for the Irish.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Harzand (Epsom 4.30 WIN AND PLACE)
£25 IN FREE BETS
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