the dante will doubtless provide the winner of the derby.

​Yesterday I sent off a manuscript to a literary agency, more in hope than expectation, forgetting to include the name of the agent I intended to give the ‘honour’ of being the first person to feast their eyes on my proposed book based on the concept that truth should be universally mandated as world law. The manuscript I found easy to write; the form, covering letter, synopsis, wearying to the point of stomach-churning. I had to go for a walk in the rain to regain both perspective and equilibrium. That my effort will go down the toilet, or down the tube of the delete button, due to my own inefficiency, is, at my age and growing senility, par for the course.
The above has nothing to do with the Dante at York or the Derby trials already run but it gives the reader a glimpse of what I must contend with on a daily basis. And, anyway, Lee Mottershead began his summary of the Lingfield trials with a story about having his appendix removed at age 13.
It would as pleasant as a massage if Hector Crouch and Callam Shepherd rode the Oaks and Derby winners this year? What a breath of fresh air that would be? Ralph Beckett’s filly won in nice style, even if the time was on the slow side. And take no notice of those who think Rubies are Red will reverse the form at Epsom. Does anyone think Ryan Moore wanted to be so far behind entering the straight? Didn’t come down the hill at Lingfield; will fall down the hill at Epsom.
One of many things I do not understand about racehorse trainers is when they say, as Ralph Beckett said at Lingfield after the Oaks trial, a horse will come on bundles for the run and yet immediately rules out going for a classic in favour of a race at Royal Ascot. Treasure, I believe, will turn out to be the better filly to have run at Lingfield and would cope with Epsom’s unique topography.
Also, I do not understand Aidan O’Brien running horses in classics that ‘will come on for the run’, as he did in France this weekend. No help to ‘the lads’, I would suggest and placing an enigma within a dark mystery for punters and tipsters.
At latest count, Coolmore have seven-possible Derby horses, Los Angeles, Capulet, Agenda, Grosvenor Square, Diego Velezquez, Capulet and the burst bubble that is City of Troy. As he could be supplemented, I will add the name Highbury to the list as I thought he was the most impressive of Aidan’s recent 3-year-old winners, albeit in a minor maiden.
The betting suggests that the 2024 Epsom Derby is Godolphin verses Coolmore, with Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown representing Charlie Appleby. Of course, but for the horror that occurred at Chester, with the fatal injury to the immensely likeable Hidden Law, we would have a different Godolphin horse heading the market. In some ways, after what happened at the end of the Chester Vase, Charlie Appleby deserves to win at Epsom. I hope he does; I hope he doesn’t.
Macduff and Caviar Heights are possible candidates pre the Dante, though I hope come Epsom a new trainer appears on the scroll of honour, as well as new owner and jockey. The trainer has no need to keep his fingers crossed as the horse will, if he gets there, represent him at Epsom, though if I were Callum Shepherd I would keep toes and fingers crossed in case Frankie makes a transatlantic phone call to the Gredley family reminding them of their long friendship, his availability and the need to have an experienced jockey riding for them at Epsom.
Do I fancy Ambiente Friendly? Not at this stage as though his time was close to a track record at Lingfield, I suspect he beat little of importance, even if he won with his head in his chest.
I am tipping a horse that will perhaps be kept for the Irish Derby. But I was impressed by Highbury and if he needed the run to bring him on, he might be the 3-year-old of the season for Coolmore.

Finally, and on a different matter altogether. I am presently re-reading Ivor Herbert’s book ‘The Winter Kings’ and was reminded of one fact, with an add-on that stretches symmetry to the point where one might be forgiven for exclaiming ‘Spooky or what!’ Can I suggest a spiritual passing-on of the banner of true and unarguable greatness.
Golden Miller died the same year Arkle was born at Ballymacoll Stud, then owned by Dorothy Paget, who owned Golden Miller during his illustrious career and who I was relieved to find out ensured he had a long and happy retirement.