Derby Day & Two Runners

  Micronormous - One of Two Runners Today

It is Derby day at Epsom and what a race we have to look forward to at 3.30pm.  Delacroix is favourite for the Ballydoyle team and after such a good day for their team yesterday I would not be surprised to them win this Classic as well.  Delacroix is the choice of Ryan Moore.  Ryan has been a World Class jockey for a long time now but he just seems to be riding out of his skin at the moment.  He was brilliant at Epsom yesterday and I thought made all the difference in the finishes of the races he won, he is so strong and clever.  Second choice for me would be the French trained Midak each-way.  The Derby is being run in honour of His Highness the Aga Khan IV this year and Midak will carry his colours this afternoon.  As I have said before, racing and sport has a funny way of working things out and I would not be surprised he was the winner, but I do let my heart rule my head sometimes!

We have two runners today, one at each of the two jumps meetings.  Micronormous runs in the 3.05pm handicap chase at Worcester with Harry Cobden on board.  There are only five runners now with two having been taking out and she is second favourite in the betting.  She does have to bounce back from a poor run at Southwell last time but returned to fences on a course that she has run well at before, I think she can do that.  The ground will suit and Harry has ridden her before and got on well with her.  She has the favourite to beat but I hope she will not be far away.

Mancero makes his stable and British debut in the 'Most Important 3 year old Race of the Day' at Hexham at 5.50pm and Jack Tudor rides.  I do love the title of this race, a tongue in cheek bit of fun at the Derby!  This is the first juvenile hurdle race of the season, we have won in twice in the last four years and I think we have a good chance of making it three this afternoon.  Mancero won a claiming hurdle in France, his only start to date after which we claimed him.  He was impressive that day and is the only one with jumping experience in this field and I hope he can put it to good use.  He has settled in well since arriving and has pleased us in all his work at home.  The racecourse is likely to get some rain before the evening card gets underway and we won't mind that and I would like to think we will take all the beating even with the penalty he has to carry.

There are two jumps meetings today at Worcester and Hexham.  Epsom is the feature flat meeting but there is also racing at Musselburgh, Doncaster, Chepstow and Lingfield.  In Ireland the have a flat fixture at Naas and the jumps action come from Punchestown.

England and Somerset were winners in the cricket last night while Bristol Bears lost to Bath in the rugby semi-final.  The French open tennis final will be Sinner against Alcaraz in Paris on Sunday with both men winning their respective semi-finals and what a match that will be.  Wales won their International football match last night 3-0 while Ireland drew their friendly against Senegal 1-1.  England are in World Cup qualifying action today and are away to Andorra, kick off 5pm.  

The England lady cricketers are in action in Taunton today against the West Indies in a One Day match.  Hopefully the rain will stay away and this should be a good match.  

I am getting stronger with age.

I can now lift £100 worth of groceries in one hand!

Have a great Saturday.