Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning: ten things we learnt at Epsom
By Harry Allwood
Last Updated: Wed 22 May 2024
There were a few more Betfred Derby and Oaks clues unveiled at the Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning on Tuesday, with Macduff (Rossa Ryan), (Jim Crowley), (William Cox) and (Pat Dobbs) all enjoying a taster of Epsom, and connections of some of the leading players in both of the Classic contests were in attendance.
Racing TV's Nick Lightfoot was on hand to gain the inside track from Rossa Ryan, Ralph Beckett, Roger Teal, Pat Dobbs, Jim Crowley, Owen Burrows, William Cox and Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper.
You can enjoy all of Nick's interviews in our highlights package below, which also features footage of the four horses mentioned above galloping.
And in no particular order, here are ten things we learnt at Epsom on Tuesday morning.
Forest Fairy the apple of Rossa Ryan's eye
There was a glint in Rossa Ryan's eye when the leading rider shared an update on Betfred Oaks contender Forest Fairy on Racing TV at Epsom on Tuesday morning.
Ralph Beckett's filly was a narrow winner when making it two from two in the Cheshire Oaks last time out, despite showcasing her inexperience. She'd created a huge impression on debut at Wolverhampton three months prior to that outing, and is already proven over the Oaks trip.
Our intrepid reporter, Nick Lightfoot, said he got the impression Ryan thinks an awful lot of Forest Fairy who is a best-priced 10-1 for Classic glory.
Ryan said: "She was very good at Chester. She didn't handle the track, and looked green, but still won being green in what looked quite a competitive field. She's a bit like Macduff, I don't really know what we're going to see - both of them are going to get better as they go on with more racing - but you can't fault Forest Fairy right now.
"She looks great, she's tightened up again and the girl who rides her every day, Charlotte, said Forest Fairy is just chilled out now and nothing bothers her.
"The one biggest attribute she has is that she relaxes well, and she'll get the trip no problem."
Dancing Gemini given Derby go-ahead after pleasing workout
has given Dancing Gemini the green light to contest the Betfred Derby following a pleasing racecourse gallop at the Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning.
The son of 2012 Derby hero Camelot has already come close to claiming Classic glory this spring when finishing a half-length second to Metropolitan in the French 2000 Guineas at ParisLongchamp.
The French Derby was under consideration, but having seemingly taken well to the cambered Epsom track in a workout with high-class sprinting stablemate Chipstead, he is poised to take his chance in the world’s most famous Flat race on June 1, live on Racing TV.
Although Dancing Gemini has never run beyond a mile, Teal is hopeful his charge will stay the extra four furlongs, and Irish rider Dylan Browne McMonagle looks set to be aboard with Teal’s stable star again at Epsom next month.
Teal said: “I’m very happy, he looked good coming down the hill. Will (Cox) said he handled the track beautifully and although we didn’t go mad, it was a nice healthy exercise.
“William said it all went well, so I think we will roll our sleeves up and come here. While it’s tempting to go back to France, coming here with a live contender is unbelievable, especially for David Fish and his wife Linda (owners).”
“We actually had discussions about this possibility last year (staying 1m4f) and deduced that although he’s very speedy, he’s bred to be a mile and a half horse. He has such a relaxed manner you can put him to sleep, and I hope we can use his burst of speed at the finish.
“The field has thinned out, which helps us a little bit, and I feel we’ve got to have a crack.
“I have lots of good memories here, as I used to stand in Philip Mitchell’s garden near the start and watch the field go by. It’s very exciting to be involved in the Derby this year.
“Dylan (Browne McMonagle) couldn’t make it this morning as he’s riding at Cork, but he’s ridden a Listed winner for Mr Fish (owner-breeder of Dancing Gemini) and we’ve bought into him because he’s a cool cookie, which is what you need on a big raceday.”
Cox believes Dancing Gemini has all the right Derby attributes
Not many people will know Dancing Gemini better than William Cox who is a regular work-rider for the Betfred Derby hope and was aboard Roger Teal's exciting prospect at Epsom on Tuesday morning.
Cox is full of confidence that the three-year-old has all the attributes required to win a Derby, and was impressed with the way Dancing Gemini handled the track at Epsom.
He told Racing TV's Nick Lightfoot: "He's a very well balanced and put-together horse. He carries himself lovely. Even cantering down today, he handled the track no bother, and going half a stride quicker coming out the dip, he's finished off really well. He's got a great temperament - he always has done. There was a big deluge when he ran in France but it didn't faze him at all. I don't think a big occasion at Epsom will be any worry for him.
"He had good form at the back-end of last year and ran well in the Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster. We always expected more from him this year and he's by Camelot out of an Australia mare, so he should progress with time, and distance, so this is the right way to go.
"It's very exciting for the team and hopefully he can continue to progress.
Ralph Beckett confident Macduff will cope with Derby distance
Ralph Beckett discusses Macduff plus his potential Betfred Oaks contenders
Ralph Beckett confirmed that Macduff is set to take his chance in the Betfred Derby after getting a sighter of the famous Epsom turf on Tuesday morning.
The three-year-old finished best of the rest behind one-time Derby favourite Arabian Crown in last month’s Sandown Classic Trial, and Beckett is looking forward to seeing Macduff line up on June 1 after traversing the track in the hands of Rossa Ryan.
He said: “I’m very happy with the horse, he’s a very straightforward customer with the right mindset, who very much enjoys his work and gets on with it.
“He’s well balanced and after a gap since he last ran, we needed to go somewhere and do something. I hope he will come forward for his run (at Sandown).
“From his breeding, he shapes more like Sea The Stars than Kingman or Bated Breath in the way he’s made and the way he trains. There’s also more cause for optimism as we go up in trip.
“I schooled him in the paddock, so he knows where he is. Unlike Westover (third in the 2022 Derby), he doesn’t need much managing. Both horses enjoy life in general but Westover needed managing.
“Rossa is pretty confident Macduff will cope with the hill and the nature of the track.”
Beckett set to hold strong hand in Betfred Oaks
Although Ralph Beckett is still fine tuning plans for his powerful squad of fillies, the Kimpton Down Stables handler is set to hold a strong hand in this year's Betfred Oaks.
Cheshire Oaks winner Forest Fairy is on course to run, and Seaward, who finished two places behind her stablemate at Chester, is also a possible contender alongside Musidora third Classical Song.
Oaks Trial winner You Got To Me is also an intended runner, and The King and Queen’s Treasure, who was only beaten a length and three quarters when fourth behind You Got To Me at Lingfield, is another possibility, but is more likely to head in the direction of Royal Ascot.
Beckett said: “All things being equal, the two trial winners will turn up.Seaward has trained well since the Cheshire Oaks, but while Treasure is a possible, I’m inclined to head her to the Ribblesdale.
“Classical Song got a long way back off a strong gallop at York but she’s on course to come here, as long as she trains well in the next week.”
“You Got To Me will come forward again but we will put some different kit in her mouth. She appears to take her racing well. I know Aidan’s filly (Rubies Are Red) came from Brighton in the Lingfield trial and will be tough to beat, but she’d had a run, which we hadn’t.”
Burrows and Crowley have high hopes for Deira Mile
and believe Deira Mile is no forlorn hope in the Betfred Derby, despite being chalked up at a general 66-1 in the ante-post betting with the sponsors for the Epsom Classic, and the youngster enjoyed a workout at the Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning on Tuesday (May 21).
The Camelot colt finished fourth in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final start last year, and his first start for Burrows, and impressed on his reappearance in a novice event at Windsor in April.
With ante-post favourite needing to bounce back from a disappointing run in the 2000 Guineas, Charlie Appleby’s Arabian Crown ruled out due to a setback and the fatal injury suffered by Chester Vase winner Hidden Law, Burrows is keen to roll the dice with his youngster.
Burrows said: “He had a nice confidence boost round Windsor and we are very happy with him. I have fond memories of Hukum running here, as well as North Light, Kris Kin and Workforce who all won the Derby when I was with Sir Michael (Stoute).
“It wouldn’t normally be my style to bring one here (to gallop), but Jim (Crowley) was very positive about everything and I feel it will be of benefit to the horse.
“The trip won’t bother him at all, and with Aidan’s horse (City Of Troy) needing to bounce back and Godolphin having such bad luck at Chester, it’s a wide-open Classic for sure.”
Crowley agreed with Burrows that Deira Mile merits his place in the field and said: “He has improved a huge amount since Windsor, which wasn’t a strong race but a nice confidence booster. Physically, he has done very well since then and is surprising me.
“I was really happy with him today. He handled the track really well and he seems to be in a really good place. I am looking forward to riding him in the Derby and I think he’ll run a big race – I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t.
“He’ll stay very well and seems a well-balanced horse who is really thriving at the moment.
“His backend two-year-old form is strong and you can see how well he has done. It’s exciting.
“He’s not overly big but well-balanced and switched leads in the right places today. Everything went well today.
“The Derby looks a very open race but this horse is going there in great order and ready to run.”
Take note of this potential dark horse in Betfred Derby
Voyage is a potential dark horse in the field for trainer Richard Hannon and owner Julie Wood, having won on his only previous outing at Newbury in April.
Hannon admitted to having some doubts about whether the son of Golden Horn will stay the Betfred Derby trip, but was encouraged by what he saw in his Tuesday morning racecourse spin at the Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning.
Hannon said: “I’m very pleased. When he won first time like he did, we didn’t really know where we were with him. I just hope he’s not too keen, because if he does that, he won’t get the trip. But he’s a good horse, and if he settles anything can happen.
“With the Derby, it’s a lot about horses hiding that we haven’t seen the best of yet. He took me by surprise the way he kept going at Newbury after being so keen. He’s inexperienced but he’s unbeaten, it’s whether he’s good enough.
“Pat (Dobbs) is riding well and rides all of Julie’s. It’s good that she sticks with him.”
Voyage giving Dobbs all the right signs
Find out what Pat Dobbs had to say to Nick Lightfoot after riding work aboard Voyage at Epsom on Tuesday morning
Jockey Pat Dobbs said Voyage's racecourse gallop "couldn't have gone better" after the three-year-old enjoyed a spin around Epsom on Tuesday morning.
Despite only making his debut in April, both Dobbs and Richard Hannon have been impressed with the son of 2015 Derby hero Golden Horn who travelled powerfully en route to a cosy victory at Newbury.
The youngster again pleased connections with his attitude at Epsom, including before and after his gallop, and Dobbs is hopeful of a bold show from this youngster, despite being aware of the challenge he faces for a horse with just one run under his belt.
“The gallop couldn’t have gone better," Dobbs said. "I’m very happy with him. We went a mile and they’ve had a bit of rain overnight so the ground is lovely. It all went smoothly and we’re very happy with him.
"I didn't know much about him that day (ahead of Voyage's debut run) as I hadn’t sat on him much, but I rode him the back end of last year. He was ready to run but he was still very weak. Julie decided not to run him just to keep him as a three year old as his pedigree is all three year old, so it was a good choice.
“He’s a horse that doesn’t need much work. He’s kind of forward going and he’s a little bit keen sometimes...
“I was very pleasantly surprised. He didn’t do everything right – he was keen, they went slow and I had no option just to let him go as we turned in and my arms were nearly dead! But he had plenty left on the line and I think with the step up to a mile and a half he’ll definitely improve.
“He’s a horse that’s only learning but I was very happy with how he went down to the start today. He went down nice and calm and came back beautiful. I was surprised at how relaxed he was in behind his lead horse.
“Hopefully he’s grown up. The Derby is obviously a very hard race to win but that’s why you’re in it. It’s exciting, of course.
“It’s the reason you get up and out of bed in the morning, to try and get rides like him. It’s very hard to get on horses like him so hopefully he’ll show up and run another nice race."
Ground "just on the slow side of good" at Epsom
Andrew Cooper, clerk of the course at Epsom, said "we're in a good place" when discussing the ground conditions with Nick Lightfoot at the Betfred Derby Festival gallops morning on Tuesday.
The ground is on the slower side of good with less than a fortnight until The Betfred Derby Festival gets underway, and it may come as a surprise that Cooper is hoping for some rain due to below-average rainfall in May so far.
There's a mixed forecast between now and Friday, May 31, and Cooper is firmly on weather watch as the two-day showpiece looms.
Cooper said: “The track is in good nick, just on the slow side of good. In the last fortnight, we’ve seen six millimetres of rain, which is drier than normal. Once we get the next 48 hours out of the way, it should be brighter leading up to the meeting.
“It would be quite nice to see a wet day tomorrow.”
21 contenders remain in Betfred Derby after latest scratchings
(IRE) 3 The Gredley Family 9 2 James Fanshawe
(FR) 3 Godolphin 9 2 Charlie Appleby
Bellum Justum (IRE) 3 King Power Racing Co Ltd 9 2 Andrew Balding
City of Troy (USA) 3 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Dallas Star (FR) 3 Amo Racing Limited 9 2 Adrian Murray Ireland
Dancing Gemini (IRE) 3 Fishdance Ltd 9 2 Roger Teal
Defiance (IRE) 3 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Monet 9 2 Roger Varian
Deira Mile (IRE) 3 Green Team Racing 9 2 Owen Burrows
Diego Velazquez (IRE) 3 Smith,Magnier,Tabor,Westerberg,Brant 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Euphoric 3 Smith,Magnier,Tabor,Westerberg,Brant 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
God's Window 3 Cayton Park Stud Limited 9 2 John & Thady Gosden
Illinois (IRE) 3 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Kamboo (IRE) 3 Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori 9 2 Richard Hughes
Los Angeles (IRE) 3 Westerberg/Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Macduff 3 Juddmonte 9 2 Ralph Beckett
Mr Hampstead (USA) 3 Amo Racing Limited 9 2 Dominic Ffrench Davis
Padesha (FR) 3 Amo Racing Limited 9 2 Dominic Ffrench Davis
Portland (IRE) 3 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Sayedaty Sadaty (IRE) 3 Ahmad Al Shaikh 9 2 Andrew Balding
The Euphrates 3 Brant/Magnier/Tabor/Westerberg/Smith 9 2 Aidan O'Brien Ireland
Voyage 3 Mrs J. Wood 9 2 Richard Hannon
Latest Betfred odds:
7-4 City Of Troy.
4-1 Ambiente Friendly.
6-1 Los Angeles.
14-1 Ancient Wisdom, Diego Velazquez.
16-1 Macduff, Dancing Gemini.
22-1 Bellum Justum.
25-1 Illinois.
33-1 Voyage.
40-1 Dallas Star.
50-1 Euphoric.
66-1 Defiance, Deira Mile, Kamboo, Padesha, The Euphrates.
100-1 Sayedaty Sadaty, Portland, God's Window, Mr Hampstead.
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