The Derby

[lazaroonie]

Thought I would start a little thread to generate some discussion among the horse fanciers among us about the greatest of Classics, The Derby, being run on Saturday.

I think its looking like one of the most open races in years - The betting markets are surely going to change whenever Fallon decides which one of FOUR fancied mounts he will decide to ride. Surely a difficult decision, but he has got a habit of getting them right.

At the moment Sir Percy looks too big a price at 8/1.

[littlemissC]

im going on sat cant wait.i think fallons on horatio nelson.definatly sir percy for me.

[ericstoner]

Yes its a real disgrace that the derby was moved to saterday a number of years ago.
I was lucky to have been meny times in the 60's to 80's, when the whole country enjoyed derby day.
At my junior school, we used to have horse related lessons in the morning,followed by an afternoon devoted to the derby,including class betting for pennys,encouraged by our Irish teachers. I still remember one boy getting the first three in the right order,in Royal palace's year 1967.
And me and my mate dancing for joy when scobie beasley,.
brought home Charlottetown in 1966...I was nine years old.
1972, when lester brought Roberto home from Rhinegold..after he'd jocked off the original rider who had to make do with rhinegold, but Lester got him on the line.

But the best fun I had, had nothing to do with snow knights 50/1 victory in 1974.

I had just started work at a firm of chartered accountants in Croydon, on Derby day at about 10:00 we had a fire alarm, everybody marched out to the roadside.......whare the partners then pointed us to the waiting couches, for a serprise company outing to epsom downs.
The office was just closed for the day, and after the horrers of the three day week, heaths battle with the leccy workers, threatened petrol rationing,and a brutel early 70's economic meltdown.....the bosses could still take the workers out one day and forget the abysmal lives we were all leading, and get some real life memories up on the downs.
yes it was warm  beer old charabangs,and the like but for that one day it was freedom from the grind.

[Graham C]

nice story Eric 

I've only been to the Derby once. Nothing interesting to report from it but I had the winner which is always nice and a winner in the first too.  Total upshot was that it paid for the beers for the day and I made it home with the same money I went out with.  As an added extra, I got sunstroke too

[Bazzaboy]

Two words


HALA BEK

another two words

GET ONNNNNNNNNNN

[Karabiner]

I've had a small interest on Championship Point, must be value at around the 19 mark on Betfair.

Surely Mick Channon has to train a classic winner soon.

[GlasgowBandit]

I shall come to a decision on my bet after todays racing.

I think I may be shopping around for value and looking for a big e/w punt.  I don't think as it stands I culd have the favourite.

[Indestructable]

I'd love to go for Frankie, but when I back him he allways seems to lose. So i will leave him alone and hope he wins.

At the moment I am tempted by Papa Bull, but time to change my mind yet.

[GlasgowBandit]

I am of the opinion that septimus is the best of the O'Brien lot and the one with scope for improvemente specially with the step up in distance.  However its a concern that Fallon has decided to stay with Horatio Nelson.

I am also leaning towards Papal Bull, I reckon there could be value in this.   And Stoute and Winston have a good win ratio together.

This is certainly one of t he most open derbies we have had in recent years and it promises to be a cracking race. 

So my selections are:

1st Papal Bull
2nd Septimus
3rd Sir Percy

[Indestructable]

Clearly I know nothing about horses.
 

[GlasgowBandit]

Clearly I know nothing about horses.
 

I don't know mate havingw atched the race a few times just as Papal Bull was coming witha  run it got hampered twice, Robert Winston was following Martin Dwyer through and he got blocked by two horses coming together and as he got going again he was slightly touched when Horatio Nelson broke down.

[ACE2M]

Nice tip from Laz.

I went the year lamatarra won, what a horse!!  My house mate at the time gave me £20 to put on him after his careful studying of the form (nice name variety). A great day out the derby.

[Robert HM]

Ah well, just got back from Epsom Downs, didn't bother to wait for the last two races. I went for horatio Nelson ealry on but would have not bothered if I kenw he was going to play up before the race. The first two races treated me well so even on the day.

The best part of the day is seeing a great final couple of furlongs in the biggie.

[Bazzaboy]

Two words


HALA BEK

another two words

GET ONNNNNNNNNNN

GUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTED

Best horse in the race by a ******* mile

[Robert HM]

whoops, it seems like Horatio Nelson wasn't playing up after all. Fingers crossed it's going to be ok