AT LAST, HAGGAS HAS A DERBY HORSE, GEORGE WAUD IS WRONG, AURORAS FAREWELL, JOSEPHINE NO LONGER DEAF.

I have thought for a long time that it must be disappointing for Maureen and William Haggas that Derby horses rarely come their way. Haggas is, of course, a Derby winning trainer, though he was not long out of short trousers when Shaamit won the race. But at least Haggas was able to prove to his father-in-law that he was up to the task, which so few son-in-laws are able to achieve. So I was as pleased as those who backed Maltese Cross yesterday that Haggas will again be represented at Epsom in a little over 3-weeks time.

You can never be sure how good the form will work out when two-horses finish so far in front of the third, especially when the third would be considered a no-hoper if he were to run at Epsom. Of the classic trials run this week, to my mind Maltese Cross looked the most likely to succeed in the Derby. The Ballydoyle winners of the trials at Chester last week beat very little by a similar distances to that achieved by Maltese Cross and Bay of Brilliance, who though beaten lost nothing in defeat, though I did think he looked like a horse who would benefit with more juice in the ground.

It would be surprising if Ballydoyle does not have a better filly than Cameo for the Oaks. She won well but again, what did she beat? Not so far over-enchanted by any 3-year-old I have seen this season. Hopefully that will change at York next week.

Reading in the Racing Post this morning, it seems that the owner of Maltese Cross, Mr. George Waud, is of the opinion that the Epsom Derby should carry a similar prize-fund as the Arc. He is wrong. The Epsom Derby is worth £500,000 more to the winner this year than last year. Is it, though, a better race for it? No, it is very much similar to last year's Derby. Chucking money at the Epsom Derby will not return aura or prestige to the race. The only people who can return its prestige are the breeders, especially the owner/breeders, those who have forsaken the Epsom Derby on-mass by breeding horses without the stamina for 12-furlongs, breeding for speed, with mile races becoming supreme. Derby winners go to stud with six-figure covering fees, that is where the big bucks are made, Mr. Waud. Until the Epsom Derby can captivate the public again, the present level of prize-money is more than adequate. Oh, and one more thing, Mr. Waud, people today, the man on the Clapham omnibus, to use an ancient saying, is not impressed by the rich becoming richer and they no longer make the effort to gaup at the aristocracy and the mega-wealthy. If only the wealthy would take notice, the B.H.A. might finally grasp what the problem is all about!

Auroras's Encore, the Grand National winner in 2013, has died, aged 24. Back in his day a cheaply bought horse could go on and win a Grand National, as could a relatively small stable high on the Yorkshire Moors, as could a relatively unknown norther jockey, in this case Ryan Mania. Those were the days, by gad they were!

It is a pleasure to report that Josephine Gordon will return to riding at Lingfield next Tuesday, after an operation to give her back a good proportion of her hearing, 70% in her right ear, though still as deaf as Kier Starmer in her left ear. Since the operation to replace a bone in her ear, Gordon has had to undergo concussion, balance, hearing and fitness tests to prove herself fit to return to the racecourse. It must have been very difficult this past seven-years as she gradually lost her hearing and only she can understand or explain the difficulties she has faced when riding in a race or just in her ordinary life. When she could not even hear the noise of the crowds, even when winning a race, the loss of one of her senses must have made race-riding that bit harder. Hopefully, owners and trainers will be kind to her and give her every opportunity of rebuilding her career. She should be in the same sphere as Holly Doyle and Saffie Osborne by now as she was as good as them when first out of her apprenticeship. Yes, Josephine is one of my favourites. I wish her well.