Derby | Horse Racing Free Tips

Observations: Heron At the Mercy of Slipofthepen

18.45, Sandown, Listed, £50,000, 3yo, 8fT
SLIPOFTHEPEN (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) takes in the Listed Heron S. which the John and Thady Gosden stable have employed for their G1 St James's Palace S. contenders in recent times. Successful in the former Easter S. at Kempton last month, The King and Queen's relative of the Oaks runner-up Flight Of Fancy (GB) (Sadler's Wells) looks likely to extend his unbeaten record and book his Royal Ascot ticket with just three relatively exposed rivals in opposition.

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Conditions To Suit For Local Dynasty In the Dee

Wide-margin winners trended on a rain-softened opening to Chester's May Festival and, with testing conditions set for day two at the Roodeye, it will be as you were turning to Thursday's Listed Boodles Dee S., another G1 Derby trial, and the Tote-sponsored G3 Ormonde S. for the older stayers.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will relish the muddy track, according to Charlie Appleby, and returns off a soft-ground breakthrough score in October's Listed Pontefract Castle when last seen.

“He has done well over the winter and we know that he will handle the ground following his wins at Sandown and Pontefract,” the trainer said. “Stepping up in trip looks as though it should suit and this seems a decent starting point for his campaign.”

O'Brien Dynasty To Retain Sovereignty?

Aidan O'Brien has struck for seven of the last 10 editions and relies on Dundalk maiden winner San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in his quest for an overall 10th triumph, which would be one shy of Barry Hills' record 11.

“He's in good form and won his maiden nicely in Dundalk,” the trainer commented. “I don't know if he's run in that ground before, so we're not sure about that, but he's in good form.”

Son Donnacha also has representation and sends forth G2 Golden Fleece S. third Alder (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who will line up off a comeback win at Cork last month.

“He's a very nice horse and we've always thought a lot of him,” said the junior O'Brien. “He was always going to make a better 3-year-old and the race is timed nicely for him. It's three weeks from his last run and then about three weeks to the Derby, so it has worked out well and we will learn a bit more about him.”

Possible Delays For Passenger's Return

It's been a long 20 years since the Dee hosted a subsequent Blue Riband hero, Kris Kin (Kris S.) doing the double for Sir Michael Stoute, but the veteran maestro's impressive Wood Ditton winner Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) is by no means a certain starter in this year's renewal.

“Sir Michael is going to review the ground in the morning and should it be deemed too soft, Passenger may not run,” revealed Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper. “He's a horse that needs good ground, so it wouldn't make sense for his second start to run the horse on an unsuitable surface.”

Ormonde Duel In Store

Later on the card, the eight-runner G3 tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde S. appears to be a straight-up duel between 2022 hero Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and Ballydoyle's G1 Derby fifth and G2 King Edward VII victor Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who annexed last year's G3 Chester Vase at this meeting.

“He carries a penalty and is very well, but could have done with a better draw,” said trainer William Haggas of the former. “He's ready to go, he enjoys a bit of cut in the ground and I believe it is going to be quite soft. He should enjoy it and we will try to take advantage of the [soft] ground while we have it.”

Ryan Moore is hopeful Changingoftheguard, who comes back off a 328-day break, is up to the task on seasonal return.

“He was very impressive in testing ground when winning the Chester Vase here last season and followed up with a good fifth in the Derby,” the rider said. “We never saw him after [the King Edward VII at] Royal Ascot as he picked up an injury, but we are obviously very happy with him now or else we wouldn't be here. Hopefully, he can get a Group 1 on his CV this season. It's a deep and tough race for a Group 3, but this is a good starting point for him.”

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Swordlestown Little Team Say Soft Ground Key To Arrest’s Derby Claims

Swordlestown Little's Mariann Klay, who along with her husband Des Leadon bred the impressive G3 Chester Vase winner and new Derby favourite Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), says that soft ground will be key to the Juddmonte colt's Epsom challenge.

Arrest, trained by John and Thady Gosden, shot to the head of the Derby market after sluicing up in his favoured testing ground at Chester on Wednesday.

That prompted bookmakers to propel Arrest to Derby favouritism at odds of 6-1, usurping 2,000 Guineas disappointment Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Klay described breeding a Derby favourite from the brilliant bargain buy Nisriyna (Ire) (Intikhab) as a dream and said the success could provide inspiration for smaller breeders in the future.

“It's wonderful–it's what everyone dreams of and, when it comes off, it's amazing,” she said after the race on Wednesday.

“It's special because the odds are always stacked against you and so much can go wrong. It doesn't matter how well-bred they are or what trainers they are with, things can go wrong, so when it actually does happen, it really is special.”

Klay added, “Arrest loved the soft ground so, if Epsom came up soft, that would be great. I don't think he would run on anything other than soft ground but he is a very good horse, there's no doubt about it. The lovely thing is, he is a very good horse for the future, even beyond this year. He could be an exciting older horse.”

Nisriyna was snapped up for just €2,000 by Klay and Leadon at the Goffs November Sale in 2010. It has proved to be money well spent with the mare producing six individual winners, including three black-type performers who achieved ratings of 110 or more.

Indeed, the standard in which Arrest was held in by Juddmonte was evident at Goffs last November when the internationally acclaimed owner-breeders snapped up a Wootton Bassett (GB) foal out of the mare for €340,000.

Going back to the beginning of the success story, Klay said, “Des and I used to ride out at John Oxx's [where Nisriyna was trained but never raced], hence I knew Nisriyna's family, which allowed us to go for her at the sales. It was just one of those lucky days that we made a lucky call.

“It doesn't always happen but I suppose it will give hope to small breeders as we only have five mares and it shows you don't always have to spend a lot of money.”

Nisriyna is also the notable producer of Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}), a winner of over €1 million in prize-money in Hong Kong, and the talented sprinter Spring Loaded (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}).

The 16-year-old darling of Swordlestown Little is reported to have a Dark Angel (Ire) colt foal at foot and, after scanning successfully in foal to Juddmonte's Kingman (GB), Klay and Leadon have ever more reason to dream.

Klay said, “She's actually in New England Stud as we speak. She has been scanned in foal to Kingman and has a nice colt by Dark Angel at foot. Obviously I can't wait to have her home! It would just be lovely if we could have a filly out of her now.”

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Harrington Has Lively Derby Contender With Churchill Colt Sprewell

Jessica Harrington has never won the Derby but that could change this season judging by the performance Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) posted in winning a key trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Sent to post an 8-1 shot for the Group 3 Derby Trial S., Sprewell travelled into the race better than anything under Shane Foley, and quickened clear to win a cosy three lengths at the winning line.

It was a taking performance from the Churchill colt, owned by Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim, who was cut to 20-1 for Epsom.

Foley said, “He's a very, very good horse. He wouldn't excite you at home and I wasn't sure how he was going but Kate [Harrington, assistant and daughter to Jessica] told me he was fine, ready and not to worry.

“He gave me a proper feel, when I gave him a squeeze he came back underneath me. It was a proper-run race and a good one. He'll be a Derby horse, hopefully. He enjoys that soft ground. There's no reason why he shouldn't go on better ground but he handles it well.”

Favourite Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who had won the G1 Criterium International on his last start as a two-year-old, finished third.

Sprewell becomes the seventh Group winner for his sire and the first of such from five winners for the G1 E.P. Taylor S. heroine and G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB}). He is also his dam's last known foal.

Lahaleeb is kin to the Listed Masaka S. victrix Precocious Star (Ire) (Bold Fact) while her full-sister Pink Flames (Ire) produced the Listed Copa de Oro Donostia victor and Spanish champion Flanders Flame (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).

Sprewell's third dam Dancing Debut (GB) (Polar Falcon) has the Listed John Musker S. winner Dancing Partner (GB) (Danzero {Aus}) to her credit. The next dam Exclusive Virtue (Shadeed) is a half-sister the G1 2,000 Guineas hero and sire Entrepreneur (GB) (Sadler's Wells) as well as to the G1 Coronation S. heroine and stakes producer Exclusive (GB) who shares Polar Falcon (Nureyev) as a sire with Dancing Debut and has the G1 Matron S. victrix Echelon (GB) (Danehill) heading her progeny list.

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
DERBY TRIAL S.-G3, €70,000, Leopardstown, 5-7, 3yo, 10fT, 2:15.57, sf/hy.
1–SPREWELL (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Lahaleeb (Ire) (GISW-Can, MGSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $1,013,003), by Redback (GB)
2nd Dam: Flames (GB), by Blushing Flame
3rd Dam: Dancing Debut (GB), by Polar Falcon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mohamed Khalid Mohamed Abdulrahim; B-Khalid Abdul Rahaim (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington; J-Shane Foley. €42,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $61,287. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Up And Under (Fr), 131, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Hibiscus (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (220,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 130,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT; €130,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-Go Racing Ltd; B-Floors Stud Roxburgh Estate Office (FR); T-Joseph O'Brien. €14,000.
3–Proud And Regal (Ire), 131, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Simply Perfect (GB), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €7,000.
Margins: 3, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 8.00, 2.75, 1.50.
Also Ran: Londoner (Ire), Goldenstatewarrior (Ire), Tower Of London (Ire), Mr Lincoln (GB), Mohawk Chief.

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