the derby 2025.

​Did anyone think the draw for the Epsom Derby that took place yesterday at the local cinema was both a bit naff and rather unnecessary? Well, that was my opinion from the moment Rishi Persad thanked the F.A. for lending them their ‘materials’. The sport can afford a £3-million+ advertising budget, yet could not go to the expense of a velvet bag and nineteen numbered balls. Shakes head, moves on. Has a re-think. It was not as embarrassing as last year’s effort which took place in Epsom High Street amongst virtually no on-lookers. If they persist in this no-show and even less interest amongst the non-racing public, do the draw from Racing Post headquarters or the studio of racing broadcaster. The racing enthusiasts may be an interest in which horse comes out of which draw but no one else will give a damn. Shakes head and moves on, again.
As long as all of the nineteen declared runners go to post, which I suspect will not be the case due to the softening ground conditions, but let us hope, the 2025 Epsom Derby will at least be a reminder of days gone by when 20-runners would be the least expected to take part. Nineteen-runners will ensure some kind of jeopardy and jeopardy makes for a more entertaining and newsworthy race.
I also believe this Derby is the most compelling Derby of recent years. It is a proper race, with one of three or four who might yet start favourites, and with at least a dozen of the runners having a legitimate chance of winning and any one of the nineteen having the opportunity to finish in the first four. The arrival of proper rain, of course, throws a spanner into all of the experts previous study of the race as now it is not only about which horses have the form and pedigree to suggest they are likely to engage favourably with the 12-furlong, but also how many will act on the softish ground? They say speed wins the Epsom Derby, not stamina. That might not necessarily be the case in 2025.
Personally, I remain wedded to the idea that Ruling Court has the class, form and pedigree to win from Midak and Stanhope Gardens, with Lambourn being the best betting value of the three O’Brien horses. Colin Keane might be on the best of the three Ballymore runners and he might just cruise past the whole lot of them in the final furlong. The old adage, there, of the speediest and classiest horse always prevailing. On the other hand, if you think back to the Dante on the flatlands of York, Keane might just have a nightmare of a ride if The Lion in Winter behaves as he did then, when even the master of the saddle had the greatest difficulty persuading him to put his head down and be at least a good representation of what an O’Brien racehorse should be. Keane will either wear the crown of victory on Saturday or he will return to the weighing room a man close to breaking point.
Usually when it comes to the races that really matter, and the Derby along with the Ascot Gold Cup are the only two flat races that really matter to me, there is a horse, jockey, trainer or owner, who I want to win, even though form suggest they have no prayer. This time around, even though it will be a delight if Derby glory goes to someone who has never savoured success in the race before, I have no bias. Colin Keane and Wayne Lorden, for instance, even though they are on Coolmore horses, deserve a day in the limelight and if there is any justice in the world Tom Marquand will surely win a Derby during his career. And though they cannot be termed ‘journeyman jockeys’ as they have already tasted big-race successes, it would be a nice touch if David Probert or Luke Morris could triumph, and if Billy Loughnane were to win at his first attempt, there would be echoes of Lester Piggott.
Yet I am suggesting that William Buick will win his second Derby, from Mikhail Barzalona, also a winning Derby jockey.
For once, I am looking forward to a race on the flat.