Latest from Horse & Hound in Epsom

Tips for the Derby at Epsom from racing experts, including a 150/1 outsider and a horse who could ‘flip the script’

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:05:29 +0000

The Epsom Classic, the Betfred Derby, is one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar. If you’re thinking of having a bet on one of the 14 runners lining up for the one-mile four-furlong contest, we’ve sought out some Epsom Derby tips from the racing experts.

Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien has saddled a record 11 Derby winners and he sends four runners for this year’s £2,000,000 race, including ante-post favourite Benvenuto Cellini, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

The Andrew Balding-trained colt Item, who will be ridden by Colin Keane, is the shortest priced English runner and one of five sons of the legendary Frankel running in the world famous Epsom horse race.

To help you decide which of the 14 horses and jockeys might come home first in this year’s Betfred Derby at Epsom, which takes place on Saturday 6 June at 4pm, here are some Epsom Derby tips picked out by the racing experts.

Good luck!

Epsom Derby tips

James J Braddock

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien | Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle

My pick as H&H racing editor is relative underdog James J Braddock. It’s hard to look past the Aidan O’Brien runners in the Derby, but I’ve gone instead for a colt trained by his son Joseph O’Brien, who has twice ridden but not yet trained a Derby winner. James J Braddock is co-owned by ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake and named after the American heavyweight boxing champion. This son of Zarak won a competitive Derby trial at Leopardstown – beating fancied Ballydoyle runner Pierre Bonnard in the process. He also won on heavy ground as a two-year-old, so won’t be inconvenienced by the projected softer ground at Epsom on Saturday. Could James J Braddock deliver a knockout blow and win the iconic race? He could well punch his way into the placings at least.

Ancient Egypt

Trainer: Charlie Johnston | Jockey: David Egan

ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles will be calling home the Betfred Derby winner during its coverage starting at 1pm on Saturday, but he’ll be keeping his eye on one runner in particular.

“Ancient Egypt may well be able to outrun his odds,” says Richard. “Connections took this big imposing horse to Epsom on the gallops morning to get him accustomed to the track and despite his size he looks a well balanced horse as he showed when galloping on strongly at Newmarket last time. A son of the great Frankel, he cost over £1m as a yearling but it still could be money well spent.”

Benvenuto Cellini

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | Jockey: Ryan Moore

Racing journalist Frank Keogh says: “I think we saw something special when Benvenuto Cellini powered to victory in the Chester Vase. Even the taciturn jockey Ryan Moore was laughing afterwards. I expect big “Ben” to give Aidan O’Brien a 12th Derby win. James J Braddock can go well for Aidan’s astute son Joseph and take an each-way chance (particularly if you find a bookmaker offering four places) on 150/1 shot Balzac. He was placed in two Derby trials.”

ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin agrees: “Basically, I think Aidan O’Brien will win the Derby with his best three-year-old and you can gauge which one they think is the best as to the one Ryan Moore picks – Benvenuto Cellini – so let that be your guide. As an outsider, I like Ancient Egypt!”

Maltese Cross

Trainer: William Haggas | Jockey: Tom Marquand

H&H racing reporter Lucy Elder says: “The Coolmore behemoth is rightly dazzling, but blink through the glare and other sparks emerge among this year’s field. Maltese Cross, owned by film producer George Waud (of Snakes On A Plane fame), sailed through Lingfield’s Derby trial last month (9 May) and showed real guts in that close-fought finish with Bay Of Brilliance. The Sea Of Stars son is a beautiful mover and I love the way he’s been so game in the closing stages of his races. Being drawn in stall one isn’t ideal, but proved no obstacle to Adayar (2021) nor City Of Troy (2024) – the most recent of the four horses to win from that draw since stalls were introduced in 1967. Jockey Tom Marquand has been on board for his last three stars, all victorious. This year marks the 30th anniversary of trainer William Haggas’s sole Derby winner, Shaamit (1996) and Maltese Cross could well be the horse to flip the script on the Coolmore narrative that has dominated the Derby in recent years.”

Epsom Derby coverage

So there are your Epsom Derby tips all wrapped up! The Betfred Derby Festival takes place at Epsom Downs from 5-6 June and you can watch it live on ITV Racing. Horse & Hound will be bringing you all the latest news during the two-day meeting, as well as online coverage with a special report featuring in the magazine dated 11 June. Enjoy!

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

How to watch The Epsom Derby live from anywhere in the world

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:07:25 +0000

Watch the Epsom Derby live this weekend and enjoy the action from what’s known as “the greatest flat race in the world”.

Horses only have one chance to shine in the Epsom Derby as it’s only open to three year olds, so the stakes are higher than ever.

At a glance

Epsom Derby date: 6 June 2026
Watch Epsom Derby on TV: ITV (FREE), Racing TV
Watch Epsom Derby from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch the Epsom Derby on TV

ITV will screen much of the action from the Epsom Derby Festival live and for free on ITV1 and ITVX from 1pm to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, while Racing TV (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) will broadcast via its subscription-based service.

ITV Racing will broadcast six races on each day of the festival, including The Derby and The Oaks, while Racing TV will cover every race.

You don’t need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing – just an email address and a valid TV license. You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

What time is the Epsom Derby?

The Derby will run at 4pm and will be the fifth of eight races at Epsom Downs on Saturday 6 June.

What time is the Epsom Oaks?

The Oaks starts at 4pm and will be the fifth of eight races at Epsom Downs on Friday 5 June.

How to watch the Epsom Derby from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

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Epsom Derby Day race times

Start time	Race	Distance
1.30pm	The Betfred Tattenham Corner Stakes (Group 3)	7f
2.05pm	The Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3)	1m+
2.40pm	The Coolmore Coronation Cup (Group 1)	1m 4f
3.15pm	The Betfred ‘Dash’ Handicap Stakes (Heritage Handicap)	5f
4pm	The Betfred Derby (Group 1)	1m 4f
4.40pm	The Cherryfield (Croydon) Lester Piggott Handicap Stakes	1m 2f
5.20pm	The HKJC Worldpool Northern Dancer Handicap Stakes	1m 4f
5.55pm	The JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap Stakes	6f

How long is the Epsom Derby?

The Derby is 1m4f, which is approximately 1.5 miles or 2.414km.

What is the Epsom Derby?

The Epsom Derby is one of Britain’s richest and most prestigious Classic Flat races. It is open exclusively to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, and is the second leg of the triple crown – preceded by the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and followed by the St Leger at Doncaster.

The course at Epsom Downs is known for its extreme undulations and camber. Horses face a tough, steep climb in the first half-mile before navigating a sweeping descent and a long straight to finish. The Derby serves as the ultimate test of a racehorse’s speed, stamina and balance.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Final runners for The Derby confirmed ahead of the 2026 Classic

Jennifer Donald — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:35:00 +0000

The final field of Derby entries has been decided after the last deadline for declarations passed on the morning of Wednesday 3 June. The finishing touches are now being made for 14 runners and riders announced for the 2026 Epsom Classic. The Betfred Derby takes place at 4pm on Saturday 6 June on Epsom Downs racecourse and an A-list crop of three-year-old colts are set to line up for this year’s race.

So who will be bidding for glory and a slice of history in the £2,000,000 contest?

Here is your full run down of this year’s Epsom Derby entries.

Derby entries: who is trying to win the £1m first prize?

After the final scratching deadline of 3 June, a total of 14 Derby horses remain for the 247th running of the world-famous 1m 4f race. Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien saddles four of the contenders, including the race favourite Benvenuto Cellini, and a further runner is trained by his son Joseph O’Brien.

But there’s also an intriguing English contingent lining up to contest this country’s richest and most prestigious horse race.

So who will follow in the hallowed footsteps of the likes of City Of Troy, Sea The Stars, Galileo and Mill Reef to take the Epsom crown? Which jockeys are riding which horses in this year’s race?

Here is the complete list of 2026 Epsom Derby runners and riders.

Epsom Derby runners

Action (Trainer: Aidan O’Brien)
Alderman (Richard Hannon / jockey: Pat Dobbs)
Ancient Egypt (Charlie Johnston / David Egan)
A Taste Of Glory (Andrew Balding / Jamie Spencer)
Balzac (Jane Chapple-Hyam / Silvestre de Sousa)
Bay Of Brilliance (Ralph Beckett / Hector Couch)
Benvenuto Cellini (Aidan O’Brien)
Christmas Day (Aidan O’Brien)
Item (Aidan O’Brien / Colin Keane)
James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien / Dylan Browne McMonagle)
Maltese Cross (William Haggas / Tom Marquand)
Pierre Bonnard (Aidan O’Brien)
Poker (Kieran Burke / Rowan Scott)
Rebel Rocker (Faye Bramley / Rob Hornby)

The following horses were scratched from the race on Wednesday 3 June and will not take part: Amadeus Mozart (Aidan O’Brien), Causeway (Aidan O’Brien), Endorsement (Aidan O’Brien), Hawk Mountain (Aidan O’Brien), Constitution River (Aidan O’Brien), Proposition (Aidan O’Brien), Saxon Street (John and Thady Gosden), Shosholoza (Joseph O’Brien).

The Betfred Derby Festival takes place at Epsom Downs from 5-6 June. Horse & Hound will be bringing you all the latest news and tips in the run-up to the meeting, as well as online coverage with a special report featuring in the magazine on sale 11 June.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Proud moment’ as The King and Queen confirm plans to attend The Derby at Epsom

Lucy Elder — Sat, 30 May 2026 08:02:01 +0000

The King and Queen will attend the Betfred Derby at Epsom Downs next weekend (6 June) to watch the 247th running of the British Classic.

Epsom’s general manager Jim Allen said the racecourse is “honoured and thrilled” that the King and Queen will be there on Derby day.

“Their Majesties show great enthusiasm, interest and support for horseracing in the UK and their attendance next week will be a proud moment for all of the team here and everyone connected with the racecourse,” he said.

“Derby day provides joy and entertainment to millions of people around the world as one of Britain’s most famous and iconic events, and royal attendance has been synonymous with the meeting for generations. We are delighted that Their Majesties will be continuing this tradition next week.”

The King and Queen are both honorary members of The Jockey Club, which owns Epsom Downs racecourse, and became the organisation’s joint patrons in May 2024.

Their visit continues a tradition of royal attendance. The late Queen only missed two editions of the famous race from the start of her reign until the Covid pandemic, in 1956 when on a state visit to Sweden, and in 1984 when attending the 40th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Her late Majesty was also patron of The Jockey Club for 68 years, from 1954 until her death in September 2022.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Hotels and holiday lets near Epsom Downs Racecourse

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:06:29 +0000

If you’re planning a day at the races, finding a hotel near Epsom Racecourse will help you make the most of your visit to the Surrey venue. Epsom Downs Racecourse is home to a number of big race meetings throughout the year, most notably The Epsom Derby.

Due to the popularity of the bigger race meetings, accommodation is often booked well in advance, so if you find something suitable available, we suggest you don’t hang around.

We’ve included a great selection of accommodation by type – not just hotels near Epsom Racecourse, but guest houses, B&Bs and holiday lets, too, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. And we’ve got something for all group sizes, from couples to large groups looking to stay together. Distances are calculated from the racecourse (KT18 5LQ).

Jump to:

Hotels near Epsom Racecourse
Holiday lets and apartments near Epsom Racecourse

Hotels near Epsom Racecourse

Holiday Inn Express London Epsom Downs
Distance: < 1 mile | Tripadvisor: 4.1/5
Parking and breakfast included here.View Deal

Premier Inn Epsom Town Centre
Distance: 1.8 miles | Tripadvisor: 4.2/5
Off-site parking is available a one minute walk away from the hotel at Epsom Council Town Hall car park.View Deal

Premier Inn Epsom Central
Distance: 2 miles | Tripadvisor: 3.7/5
Free on-site parking is available here.View Deal

Travelodge Epsom Central
Distance: 2 miles | Tripadvisor: 4.4/5
King-size bed and ensuite comes as standard.View Deal

Westleigh
Distance: 2.3 miles | Tripadvisor: 4.4/5
This guesthouse offers a five-star experience with a beautiful garden and terraceView Deal

The Lodge at Kingswood
Distance: 4 miles | Tripadvisor: 4.7/5
Enjoy a highly-rated breakfast here.View Deal

Orchid Epsom
Distance: 4.7 miles | Tripadvisor: 3.7/5
Three-star hotel highly rated by families.View Deal

Chessington Resort Hotel
Distance: 4.8 miles | Tripadvisor: 3.7/5
Safari-themed four-star hotel with bar and grill.View Deal

Woodlands Park Hotel
Distance: 7.1 miles | Tripadvisor: 4/5
This four-star hotel on a Victorian country house estate has a fitness centre and two restaurantsView Deal

Sunday Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel
Distance: 8.1 miles | Tripadvisor: 3.7/5
This four-star hotel has an outdoor swimming pool.View Deal

Holiday lets and apartments near Epsom Racecourse

Spacious Family Bungalow With Garden
Distance: 1.9 miles
This house sleeps up to seven people and has barbecue facilities, so is a great option for groupsView Deal

Apartment in Epsom
Distance: 2.1 miles
This one-bed apartment sleeps up to three people and has access to free parking.View Deal

AmberBlue@Epsom
Distance: 2.3 miles
This collection of apartments sleep up to five people each, and have a kitchenette, washing machine, private bathroom, and a dining area.View Deal

OYO Flexistay Aparthotel
Distance: 4.7 miles | Tripadvisor: 3.3/5
This cross between an apartment and hotel offers a range of room sizes.View Deal

Exquisite Manor House in Surrey Hills
Distance: 5 miles
This beautiful property is perfect for large groups – it sleeps 16 with nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms.View Deal

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Epsom Derby tickets are available now with an early-bird discount, plus details on watching for free

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:59:27 +0000

Tickets for the Epsom Derby Festival are now on sale – and this year there are some exciting changes in place for 2026. The Betfred Derby Festival will take place on 5–6 June if watching the Epsom Derby on TV is not enough for you, then here’s everything you need to know about getting tickets to watch the action on the UK’s second most-valuable race day (to the Qipco British Champions Day) in person.

As the festival is a little while away, the tickets on sale now have an early-bird discount, so you can make savings compared to on-the-gate prices. There are also group discounts to make the most of if purchasing six tickets or more available in selected enclosures. All parking is free this year, but it’s recommended that you reserve a pass in advance.

Epsom Derby tickets: general admission

Children (under 18) will get free entry on both days in general admission enclosures. These tickets all include access to the DJ after party and parade ring viewing.

Ladies Day (Friday 5 June) tickets are slightly cheaper than Derby Day (Saturday 6 June).

Upper Tattenham

These tickets are ideal for families seeking a relaxed day at the races. You get trackside viewing as the horses head into the home straight, plus you can bring a picnic and there is all-day entertainment on offer. There is also a wet weather cover. These tickets do not include access to the parade ring, winner’s enclosure or DJ after party. Gate prices start at £35.

Adult early bird: From £32

Grandstand enclosure

This enclosure is for those seeking thrills from start to finish – it’s located along the home straight, so not only will you see the horses thunder toward the finish post, but there’ll be an electric atmosphere. Gate prices start at £75.

Adult early bird: From £55.25

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Duchess stand reserved seating

This ticket gives you a guaranteed seat for the whole day and access to live entertainment. These seats are limited so although gate prices are listed as starting at £115, we recommend you book in advance.

Adult super early bird: From £115

Queen Elizabeth II stand

This enclosure offers a more prestigious experience – you get the best views of the course, the winning post and parade ring. You can also view the winner’s circle and enjoy the stand’s lawn. There is a dress code for this stand on Derby Day. Gate prices start at £145.

Adult super early bird: From £135

Premium area tickets

Cedric’s

Close to the action with seating options and wet weather/shade cover, this ticket offers a complimentary glass of fizz on arrival and bar snacks throughout the day. You get the best views of the finish line with access to seating along the final furlong, as well as all-day entertainment and access to an exclusive after party. These tickets include parking, a complimentary racecard and admission to the Grandstand Enclosure.

Adult: From £245

Epsom Derby hospitality packages

There are a number of hospitality tickets available starting at £525 per person for the new 1780 package up to £900 per person for tickets into the Derby Suite, which is the most exclusive and intimate dining experience at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

For more information visit thejockeyclub.co.uk

Watch the Epsom Derby for free

The Derby Festival is one of the world’s only sporting events where you can watch the live action for free, thanks to The Hill. Here, everyone can join in and experience a carnival atmosphere with food and drink, big screens, a market and a funfair. Track-side viewing, the Tote, bookmakers and racecards are all easily accessible too.

Thanks to significant investment in Epsom Downs Racecourse and The Derby Festival, this year there will be new banks of “bleacher”-style covered seating on the final furlong to give racegoers a bird’s eye view, plus a new DerbyFest area.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

‘Incredible for everyone’: mega filly powers to Oaks victory

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:35:22 +0000

Indomitable Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien took the Oaks at Epsom this afternoon (6 June) for an 11th time, when Minnie Hauk battled to the line to take the Betfred-sponsored race under Ryan Moore for owners Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor.

It marked a 46th British Classic success for Aidan, who also trained Whirl, runner-up in this mile-and-a-half three-year-old fillies’ race.

“It’s incredible for everyone and I’m delighted,” said Mr O’Brien. “So many people are involved with this very classy filly.”

This was Minnie Hauk’s first run in a Group race and her fourth career run. She was last seen winning the Listed Cheshire Oaks at the start of May.

“There has been an abnormal amount of improvement from her since Chester,” said Mr O’Brien. “She has come on in class, rather than in stamina and fitness.

“Ryan gave her a beautiful ride today and she is a very exciting filly. She’s going to improve – she’s a great traveller and Ryan said she was going easy early on today so she could step up again.”

It was a fifth Oaks at Epsom victory for Ryan Moore.

“She’s still learning as she didn’t have much racing at two years old,” said Ryan of this daughter of Frankel, who went off second favourite at odds of 9/2 and ultimately won by a neck, but comfortably.

“Aidan had a lot of faith in her. I picked her up easily and although she wanted to roll down the camber on the run in, when the other filly came back to her, mine stayed on again and there’s more to come.”

The horses in behind

Whirl went off as fourth favourite in the Epsom Oaks at odds of 15/2; the favourite Desert Flower (11/10) finished four and a quarter lengths down in third under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin.

“Whirl ran a great race,” said Mr O’Brien of the daughter of Wootton Bassett. “Wootton Bassett’s are speed horses, but they’re showing that they can stay too.”

Desert Flower, who was making a bid to become the 50th filly to claim both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks, was no match for the winner and second-placed horses, but put in a gallant effort.

“She ran very well,” said William Buick. “She was stepping up a long way in trip today and we were hoping the rain would stay away, but it got in the ground and the track was testing and a bit tacky.

“She did everything right, but didn’t quite get the trip and the last furlong was a long one for her. She’s a filly that needs good, fast ground and whether she drops back to a mile and a quarter remains to be seen.”

2025 Epsom Oaks result: Minnie Hauk’s breeding

Minnie Hauk, bred by B V Sangster, is bred in the purple; by the formidable Frankel, out of Dansili mare Multilingual.

Frankel needs little introduction. With a current stud fee of £350,000, he sired 100 Group/Graded winners in 3,144 days, putting him ahead of Danehill, Deep Impact, Galileo and Dubawi. He was champion sire in 2021 and 2023 and also leading sire in Europe by prize money in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Minnie Hauk’s dam is bred and owned by Juddmonte, and she was trained by John Gosden. She ran only once, finishing sixth and has no prize money to her name.

Minnie Hauk was bought by her current connections at Coolmore for €1.85 million at the Goffs Orby Sale as a yearling.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in 12 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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‘A really special day’: trainer enjoys Oaks success 43 years after his last

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 31 May 2024 17:00:28 +0000

Irish trainer Dermot Weld took the Oaks at Epsom this afternoon (31 May), when Ezeliya powered home to take the Betfred-sponsored race under Chris Hayes for owner HH The Aga Khan IV.

It was a second success in the mile and a half fillies’ Classic for Mr Weld, 43 years after Lester Piggott partnered Blue Wind to victory in the 1981 renewal.

“Ezeliya is a queen. She’s a very professional, strong-travelling filly. She did everything right, and didn’t take a step wrong,” said Chris, who is also an Irish 1000 Guineas-winning jockey.

“I just wanted to keep momentum on her and angle her out at the top of the straight and she just leapt onto the bridle again. I knew she’d stay and I knew she had class – it’s brilliant.”

Mr Weld said: “It’s a really special day. We’re very fortunate to have a filly for his Highness [The Aga Khan] as good as this.

“Patience has paid dividends with her. We took our time with her as a two-year-old and gave her just the one run this year when she won nicely at Navan.

“I said to Chris to just ride a similar race on her, ride her with confidence and take your time to get her into a rhythm before you let her go. I never worried about the distance with her – she’s a stayer with speed.”

It was a first British Classic success for Chris.

“You can have all the sprinters you like but give me a Classic any day of the week, that’s what you’ll be remembered for,” said Chris. “Any Classic winner is special and I’ve been very fortunate.”

Mr Weld said: “Chris gave her a beautiful ride. That was the plan, to ride her the same as he rode her at Navan, where he dropped her out last. She loves to come from off the pace.

“She’s a very genuine, brave filly, and her dam was a very good race mare I trained, but this filly probably has a bit more speed and a bit more class, she’s very progressive and I was confident she would stay.

“She got a beautiful ride from Chris Hayes and she had the race won a long way out. She was cantering, and she got a lovely run down the hill. Chris got her balanced and into a rhythm before he let her go.”

Speaking of possible future plans for this filly, Mr Weld said: “We’ll see how she comes out of the race. She’s not a big filly, and Classics always take something out of a horse, we’ll review it.

“She is in the Irish Oaks, but we’ll decide whether we give her time off for an autumn campaign, which may involve the Arc.”

Continuing to reflect on his winning ride, Chris explained: “She moved forward quicker than I thought she was going to. I never had a moment’s doubt, once I was approaching the furlong pole, I knew nothing was going to be able to come as quickly as she was going to finish. It took me right to the end to pull her up – it’s probably because I was celebrating as well, but I had a good bit of petrol left. It was brilliant.”

The horses in behind

Ezeliya went off as second favourite in the Epsom Oaks at odds of 13/2, while the favourite Ylang Ylang (11/8) finished nine-and-a-half lengths down in sixth under Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Dance Sequence finished second under William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner Godolphin, three lengths behind the winner. This classy filly looked unbalanced on the notorious Epsom camber in the latter stages of the race, but is definitely one to watch for the future.

Mr Appleby said: “She did find the track tricky, yes. I think William was just glad to get her across the line in the end. He said we were probably outstayed, realistically, but he had to make his move when he did – the race was coming back to him and she was going forward, and I totally agree with him on all aspects there. It was a very pleasing run and we’ll have some fun with her in the summer, and more in the autumn when we know she appreciates cut in the ground.”

The 50/1 shot War Chimes finished a creditable third in the Epsom Oaks result, four-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, under Tom Marquand for trainer David Menuisier and owner Tars Farm Equestrian Stud.

Mr Menusier said of his filly’s Epsom Oaks result: “It was like winning. She’s an unbelievable filly. The last time she ran in France, there was no pace, she was pulling too hard and she had no cover, and she couldn’t relax. I just draw a line through that and I always felt that she’d be better at 1m4f.”

2024 Epsom Oaks result: Ezeliya’s breeding

Ezeliya, a home-bred by the Aga Khan, is bred in the purple; by the formidable Dubawi, out of a Teofilo mare named Eziyra. Remarkably, this is the first Oaks winner Dubawi has sired from 15 previous attempts.

Dubawi is the most successful stallion ever to stand in Britain. He has sired 266 Stakes winners, 175 Group winners, 57 Group One winners. He stands at his owner’s Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £350,000 for the 2024 season.

Ezeliya’s dam is also a home-bred belonging to theAga Khan, and she was also trained by Dermot Weld. She clocked £541,876 during her career on the Flat, with her most notable victory coming in the Group Two Blandford Stakes at the Curragh in 2018. Ezeliya is from the family of Estimate, who won the Ascot Gold Cup.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 6 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Showjumper eyes up a unique Epsom and Hickstead Derby double

Jennifer Donald — Sat, 25 May 2024 15:30:20 +0000

Olympic showjumping team hopeful Tim Gredley has a busy June ahead of him as he attempts to pull off a unique Derby double.

On Saturday (1 June) after fulfilling his previous day’s League Of Nations team duties in St Gallen, Switzerland, the Newmarket-based showjumper is travelling to Epsom Racecourse in Surrey where his family’s racehorse Ambiente Friendly lines up as one of the favourites for the historic Flat race, the Betfred Derby.

Three weeks later, at the world famous Hickstead Derby, Tim is hoping his showjumping stable jockey Joe Clayton can triumph with his Unex Competition Yard-owned Gentlemen VH Veldhof, with whom Tim finished 15th in last year’s contest.

“It certainly would be an odd double,” smiles Tim. “But that’s the aim!”

Tim Gredley: “We took his shoes off and let him enjoy some time in the field”

Ambiente Friendly was bought last year by Tim’s father Bill Gredley with former jockey Freddy Tylicki. The family’s patience and vision with the “tearaway” two-year-old have been richly rewarded with a three-year-old colt who now heads to the Epsom Classic as second favourite behind the Aidan O’Brien-trained City Of Troy.

“We sent him into training with James Fanshawe straight from the breeze-ups last year. I went to watch him one morning and he was lathered in sweat, just not ready to be doing what he was doing,” Tim tells H&H. “So we took the decision to take his shoes off and let him enjoy some time in the field for three months over the summer to grow and develop, and just let his mind get a bit better.”

Ambiente Friendly, who is by the Coolmore stallion Gleneagles out of Fastnet Rock mare Roxity, returned to Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe in July and won his first race at Leicester over seven furlongs “quite easily”.

“Everybody obviously hopes they have a potential Derby horse but he showed that day he had an engine, it just needed a bit of managing,” recalls Tim. “We wanted to see what we really had after that, so we ran him in a Group Three at Newmarket and we got the tactics all wrong – we should have begun to teach him to settle then, rather than letting him bowl along.

“We were all a bit annoyed with ourselves, but we learnt from that and we took the decision that he wasn’t going to be a Guineas horse – his mind wasn’t right for it – and instead the Fanshawes did a brilliant job spending the whole winter teaching him to settle in behind horses and canter slowly.”

“It’s just nice to be involved in the Derby conversation”

Ambiente Friendly finished fourth in his seasonal reappearance in a Listed race at Newmarket for new jockey Callum Shepherd, before stepping up in distance for Lingfield’s Derby Trial on 11 May, which he won with devastating ease, beating the Aidan O’Brien-trained Illinois. The Betfred Derby, part of the QIPCO British Champions series, is now the ultimate goal in this remarkable journey and experienced jockey Rab Havlin has been booked to ride Ambiente Friendly in the race.

“The plan came off and it’s very exciting now,” says Tim. “It’s lucky that we’ve managed him right, because he could very easily not be where he is now if we’d carried on with him as a two-year-old.

“It looks like it’s an open Derby this year – obviously you have to be realistic when you’re up against those big guys and we’re very aware they won’t be letting anyone have any sort of advantage or easy ride! We’d be delighted to be up among the top three or four. Really it’s just nice to be involved in the conversation.”

Tim Gredley (GBR) riding Gentlemen VH Veldhof during the Al Shira’aa Hickstead Derby. (Image credit: Sport In Pictures/Alamy Live News)

On to the Hickstead Derby…

After Derby day at Epsom, Tim Gredley will return to St Gallen to jump in Sunday’s five-star grand prix.

“With this new rule you can only jump two horses in the League Of Nations shows anyway, so there wouldn’t be anything for me to jump in on the Saturday – so I hope it’s doable to make it to Epsom on the Saturday for the Derby, then get back to St Gallen on the Sunday for the grand prix,” he says. “It’s not very often you get a runner in the Derby, let alone one with a real chance, so I’m not going to miss it!”

According to Tim, Hickstead’s Al Shira’aa Derby has also been the long-term plan for Joe Clayton and the 18-year-old Gentlemen VH Veldhof.

“I’m letting Joe and Gentlemen give it a go this year – I can’t do everything at the moment!” he says. “I think he’ll have a really good chance – the horse has never been fitter or looked healthier and has been round a couple of times with me.

“Joe’s been on flying form with him recently and really that’s been the plan since the beginning of the year, for Joe to go and win the Hickstead Derby.”

Can they pull it off? Watch this space!

Remarkable comeback results in trainer notching a record-breaking Derby victory

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 13:39:54 +0000

Trainer Aidan O’Brien notched up a record-breaking ninth Epsom Derby victory when Auguste Rodin won the Betfred-sponsored race earlier this afternoon (3 June) under Ryan Moore.

Auguste Rodin, who is owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs J Magnier and Westerberg, stayed on well over the 1m4f trip, winning by half a length and was always doing enough.

“We had a smooth run. I landed in a nice spot and was always confident I had William [Buick] and Frankie [Dettori] covered,” explained Ryan of his ride. “In the end, it turned into a bit of a dash, but he responded gamely in the last furlong.”

What is remarkable about this result is that Auguste Rodin disappointed on his last appearance, finishing a dwindling 12th when sent off favourite for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket at the beginning of May.

“Aidan is the only man that could get a horse back from a bad run in the Guineas,” said Ryan, for whom this was a 15th British Classic victory. “This horse has a great pedigree and has always shown promise – we’ve always had a lot of belief in him.”

As is always the case, Aidan was quick to thank his team at home.

“This result is a great credit to everyone and there are so many people to thank. Auguste Rodin is a home-bred horse and he is totally unique being by Deep Impact and out of one of the greatest mares [Rhododendron], who was by Galileo,” said Aidan of his Epsom Derby result. “Everything fell against him in the Guineas but he came out of the race great. Then every day at home he was getting better and more confident. Ryan gave him a peach of a ride today.”

Aidan explained that Ryan said Auguste Rodin was special in February 2022.

“When Ryan rode him in work for the first time as a two-year-old last February, he said that this horse was special and his movement is incredible.”

66/1 shot King Of Steel gave a very impressive performance to finish second under Derby first-timer Kevin Stott, for trainer Roger Varian and owner Amo Racing Limited. This Epsom Derby result for King Of Steel, who is by Wootton Bassett, is worth noting given that he had only run twice prior to the Derby and had clocked £3,240, but he has now added £335,819.24 to that with this performance.

“That was a huge run and fair play to the trainer,” said Kevin. “I think maybe I was in front a bit too long but we were beaten by a very good horse.”

White Birch was third at 12/1 under Colin Keane, for trainer John James Murphy and owner Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez.

Frankie Dettori, who won the Oaks yesterday, was sent off favourite in the Derby with Arrest, but they finished in eventual 10th.

“The track was too much for him and he couldn’t run down the hill,” explained Frankie of Arrest’s performance. “His chances were over a long way out.”

Epsom Derby 2023 result: winner’s breeding

Auguste Rodin is out of the Galileo mare Rhododendron and by Deep Impact.

Deep Impact was a champion Japanese racehorse, who won the Japanese Triple Crown in 2005 and the Japan Cup in 2006, as well as three other Japanese Grade One races. Auguste Rodin is one of just six foals from Deep Impact’s final crop prior to his death aged 17 in 2019.

Rhododendron is one of the most successful mares by Galileo. She clocked over £1.36m in prize money during her career. As a two-year-old in 2016 she was rated the joint-best filly of her generation trained in Europe, inferior only to the American filly Lady Aurelia. After finishing second on her racecourse debut she won a maiden race at Goodwood and then recorded her first important success when taking the Group Two Debutante Stakes at the Curragh in August. In October, she won the Fillies’ Mile and as a three-year-old she finished second in both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks before winning the Prix de l’Opéra. As a four-year-old in 2018 she added another major win in the Lockinge Stakes. Her owners decided to send her to Japan to be covered by Deep Impact following her retirement from the track.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 8 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

‘It’s mental’: Frankie Dettori bags final Oaks victory at Epsom in his last year in the saddle

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:24:58 +0000

Frankie Dettori made his final ride in the Epsom Oaks a winning one when riding the John and Thady Gosden-trained Soul Sister to a comfortable victory. This is Frankie’s final year in the saddle, making this Group One Betfred Oaks victory a particularly poignant one.

Frankie said to ITV after achieving his seventh victory in this prestigious race: “That means a lot – seven Oaks winners. Lady Bamford is a big supporter of mine and in my last year that is my second Classic winner – unbelievable.” The 52-year-old jockey also won the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, on Chaldean.

Frankie enjoyed further Group One success earlier in the day when piloting Emily Upjohn to victory in the Coronation Cup, also for John and Thady Gosden.

“I have ridden two great fillies this afternoon – Emily Upjohn and this one. I just want to soak it in now!” said Frankie. “It was a bit messy at the beginning and I didn’t want to go too wide. William [Buick] stopped quickly and I had to go wide, but I kept her balanced and she did the rest.”

Frankie’s previous Oaks winners are Balanchine (1994), Moonshell (1995), Kazzia (2002), Enable (2017), Anapurna (2019) and Snowfall (2021). He has now ridden 23 English Classic winners.

Of how the race panned out, Frankie said: “I followed Buick and he dived very quickly around Tattenham Corner and so I had to take evasive actions and swing right. We got organised and sat quiet between the three and the one and a half furlong poles and then I was just hoping that if I pressed the button she would go – and she did go. She’s shown so much class.

“If I stayed on one more year, I may get close to Lester [Piggott]’s 30 [Classic wins]. I’m joking! It’s incredible and I’ve had some fantastic rides. Emily and Soul Sister mean it’s two in the bag and we’ve one to go with Arrest tomorrow.

“It is mental, I’ll be honest with you. I thought I had three good rides in the three Group One races, but to have two in the bag already with the Derby to go is crazy. I’m stuck for words!”

Soul Sister is owned and was bred by Lady Bamford, who is a long-term supporter of racing. She led her mare in to the winner’s enclosure and was unsurprisingly delighted with the victory having previously enjoyed Oaks success with Sariska in 2009.

This was a fourth Oaks victory for John Gosden, who now trains alongside his son Thady.

“I could see she was coming strongly, but I didn’t know if she’d stay the mile and a half, but she did, and she stayed it well, which she needed,” said John. “This last half furlong up the hill will find them out, but she stuck her neck out and she’s a classy filly.

“Her family are milers, but looking at her pedigree I saw Darshaan under the third dam, so I thought there was a chance she’d stay. I didn’t know until the two marker what was going to happen, but it was a strongly run race and she’s beaten two nice fillies, seeing it out well.”

Of plans for the future with Soul Sister, John explained: “I think she’s versatile enough to go a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. It’s great for her to win a Classic for the owners, who bred her at their own farm, and let me tell you, that’s not an easy game. It’s hard enough to get a mare in foal, let alone breed a horse like that.”

Soul Sister went off at odds of 11/4, while short-priced favourite Savethelastdance (5/6) finished one-and-three-quarter lengths down in second under Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien in the Epsom Oaks. 40/1 shot Caernarfon finished a creditable third, just a head behind Savethelastdance, under Connor Beasley for trainer Jack Channon.

Aidan O’Brien said of Savethelastdance’s performance: “She has run well, but she obviously handles soft ground and stays very well. We were very happy with her really. She has a lot of options and we can do whatever. She is a big honest filly that stays very well and handles soft ground when it comes. She handles good ground, but soft ground doesn’t bother her.”

Jack Channon said of his Epsom Oaks result: “At the top of the hill she was travelling so well, but you could see that Frankie was travelling just as well. We picked up just as well as her [Soul Sister] up until about the furlong pole, and she probably hasn’t quite got up the hill.

“She’s a very good filly, we’re blessed to have her in the yard, and it’s just a massive thank you to everyone in the yard who has done such a great job.”

2023 Epsom Oaks result: Soul Sister’s breeding

Soul Sister is bred in the purple; by the unbeaten Frankel, out of a Dansili mare named Dream Peace. Frankel needs little introduction – he clocked almost £3m in prize money during his unbeaten run of 14 races. His victories included the Royal Lodge Stakes, the Dewhurst Stakes, the Greenham Stakes, the 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes in both 2011 and 2012, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes, the International Stakes and the Champion Stakes.

Dream Peace has proved herself to be a very useful broodmare with a handful of successful progeny, including Soul Sister. Dream Peace clocked over £500,000 in prize money while racing in the USA, winning four of her 18 races, finishing second in three others and third on eight other occasions.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 8 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

‘I was useless as a kid – today is a great day’: first Derby victory for British jockey and a poignant win for the trainer

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 16:30:08 +0000

Desert Crown provided 33-year-old British jockey Richard Kingscote with his first Epsom Derby victory this afternoon (4 June).

Trained by Newmarket-based Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Saeed Suhail, the 5/2 favourite Desert Crown never looked like he was going to lose and ultimately won comfortably by two-and-a-half lengths.

“I can’t put it into words. When I was a kid, I was useless, but I’ve had a lot of support and thanks to Sir Michael and this horse, this has happened,” Richard said of his Epsom Derby result after the race. “Desert Crown has a huge amount of class – he jumped off well, travelled great, turned in really well and it all just went lovely. I took a pull in the straight as we were travelling so well.

“He is a lovely horse and it is a lovely gentleman who trains him – it’s a great day.”

This was a sixth Derby winner for Sir Michael Stoute, but it has been 12 years since his last victory in the British Classic, sponsored by Cazoo in 2022. It was a second Derby ride for Richard and his first ever ride was at Epsom Racecourse in 2004.

The crowd offered up three cheers to Sir Michael Stoute at the prize giving. He lost his partner Coral Pritchard-Gordon in August 2020 when she was 73 after a long illness, making this victory all the more poignant.

Outsider and 150/1 shot Hoo Ya Mal finished second under David Probert for trainer Andrew Balding and owner Ahmad Al Shaikh.

The possible hard luck story of the race was Westover, who finished third and just a head behind Hoo Ya Mal. The 25/1 shot was ridden by Rob Hornby, trained by Ralph Beckett and owned by Juddmonte.

“He settled beautifully for me and I was quite happy where I was at the top of the hill,” Rob said after the race. “Then I had the gap at the road but it closed faster than I could get into it. It’s frustrating as he’s a high class horse and he’s run well – I think I’d have given the winner a run for his money if I could have got into the gap.”

Epsom Derby 2022 result: winner’s breeding

Desert Crown is out of the Green Desert mare Desert Berry and by Nathaniel, whose progeny include the prolific Enable.

Prior to his victory at Epsom today, the three-year-old colt had a 100% strike rate, winning on his debut at Nottingham in November, his sole start as a two-year-old, and impressing in a stylish Dante victory at York in May.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 9 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

‘I feel very privileged’: Aidan O’Brien becomes record-breaking trainer following Oaks victory at Epsom

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:16:25 +0000

Tuesday, the Aidan O’Brien-trained racehorse, owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Westerberg, just held on to win the Group One Cazoo Oaks on the first day of the Epsom Derby meeting today (3 June). They won by just a short head over second-placed Emily Upjohn, who went off the 6/4 favourite under Frankie Dettori, for trainers John and Thady Gosden.

Ryan Moore said after his Epsom Oaks result: “I always felt I was going to win. Tuesday is still a bit babyish – she came out of the stalls awkwardly and was further back than I wanted to be, but she put herself into the race. She’s got an awful lot of class and it’s amazing that her family keep producing results.”

Tuesday’s Epsom Oaks result came on her third birthday, making her a late foal compared to her fellow competitors, and therefore the result all the more impressive. This win was a record-breaking one too, as it meant Aidan O’Brien the trainer with the most British Classic winners to his name. O’Brien previously shared the record with John Scott, who saddled 40 Classic winners between 1827 and 1863. Aidan has now trained 41 British Classic winners, which includes 10 Oaks victories, 10 2,000 Guineas victories, eight Epsom Derby victories, seven 1,000 Guineas victories and six St Leger victories.

“Aidan is incredible – we always use those terms like ‘genius’ to describe him, but he goes into so much detail and we’ll probably never see another trainer like him again,” said Ryan.

“We are absolutely delighted,” said Aidan O’Brien after the 1m4f race. “She has never run any further than a mile but we thought the trip would suit her. Ryan gave her a lovely ride and I’d just delighted for everyone at home at Ballydoyle and Coolmore.”

Commenting on his new record, Aidan said: “It’s unbelievable to be part of the whole thing and I feel very privileged. Everyone puts in so much work day in and day out and it’s great that they can be rewarded with these results.”

The previously unbeaten and impressive Emily Upjohn didn’t have a good start, which possibly cost her the race under Frankie Dettori.

“She slipped and almost fell over at the start so I found myself last and had to pass the whole field,” a detected Frankie said after the race. “I wish I had the rail but I didn’t. It’s one of those things. She should have won.”

John Gosden, trainer of Emily Upjohn and the third-placed Nashwa (4-1), said: “She was badly left back in last and she had to circle the field.

“They went an even pace but she has just lost it at the start – it is as simple as that.

“She has got a lot of ability to come from last and get there. It was a hell of a run. That is bad luck you can’t get left that far and circle the whole field. It is not her style of racing.”

Hollie Doyle, rider of the third-placed Nashwa, achieved the best finishing position ever for a female rider in a Classic. She said: “I’m disappointed she didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed with her performance at all. She ran a solid race and when she’s stepped back to 10 furlongs there will hopefully be big days ahead. I had a beautiful trip round – she settled well and in the end I was out-stayed.

“I appreciate that it’s the best placing ever by a female rider in a Classic, but it doesn’t make a lot of difference to me. If I could ever win one though it would be amazing.”

2022 Epsom Oaks result: winner’s breeding

Tuesday is bred in the purple; by the prolific Galileo, who is also sire to the likes of Frankel, out of a Danehill Dancer mare called Lillie Langtry, who, as a two-year-old, was one of the best juvenile fillies in Ireland. She won three of her seven races including the Fillies’ Sprint Stakes, Debutante Stakes and Tattersalls Timeform Fillies’ 800 as well as finishing third in both the Albany Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes. In 2010 she recorded her biggest wins when achieving Group One victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Lillie Langtry clocked almost £900,000 in prize money for the same connections as Tuesday. Lillie Langtry also produced the incredible filly, Minding, who is a full sister to Tuesday, and who is also owned by the same connections as Tuesday.

Minding was the 2016 European Horse of the Year and was among the leading two-year-old fillies of her generation in Europe in 2015 when she won three of her five races including the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland and the Fillies’ Mile in England. On her first appearance of 2016, Minding posted a decisive victory in the classic 1,000 Guineas but was subsequently beaten when favourite for the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She went on to win a second classic in The Oaks in June, the first filly to complete the Guineas-Oaks double since Kazzia in 2002. She went on to take her fifth and sixth Group One races with wins in the Pretty Polly Stakes and the Nassau Stakes. She then defeated male opposition to take the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. At the end of the year she was named Cartier Horse of the Year and the world’s best three-year-old filly. In total, she won £2,327,295 in prize money.

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 9 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

‘It’s the Derby and it’s incredible’: unexpected result at Epsom shines light on hard-working British jockey

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 17:08:33 +0000

Adayar provided hard-working, experienced British jockey Adam Kirby with his first British Classic success when claiming the 2021 Cazoo Derby today (5 June) at Epsom.

It was a landmark win for the legendary Frankel, the sire of this horse, as Adayar quickened up to the line to claim victory by four-and-a-half lengths for trainer Charlie Appleby and owner, Godolphin.

“I went a bit weak half a furlong out. My mother will be watching — she’ll be happy and that made me a bit sad for a second,” said Adam of his 16/1 shot after the race. “Racing is swings and roundabouts, but Charlie Appleby is a top man — I can’t thank him enough. He is a true gent and a great trainer. Thanks to them for putting me on this lad — it’s the Derby and it’s incredible.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Epsom Derby 2021 winner

Adayar, who is out of a Dubawi mare and was bred by Godolphin, was drawn in stall one and to win the Epsom Derby from there is a rare achievement. The field went a strong gallop, but Adam had his horse on the rail, going the shortest route throughout the race. The colt was brave to take a gap up the inner on the home straight and quickened up well to power home ahead of 50/1 shot Mojo Star.

Adayar was the second string for Godolphin, with Hurricane Lane, who finished eventual third under William Buick, going off strongest in the betting for connections.

“Thank you to team Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed — I couldn’t be happier,” said a delighted Charlie Appleby post-race. “I thought this horse was more of a St Leger type, but Sheikh Mohammed said ‘run him — he’s a horse for the Derby’ and he was right. Adam gave him a fantastic ride and days like this are magical days. He’s a scopey horse and only time will benefit him even more — he’s a lovely horse to have around.”

Bolshoi Ballet, who went off favourite at 11/8 under Ryan Moore for Oaks’ winning trainer, Aidan O’Brien, finished seventh.

Continued below…

(Image credit: Future)

‘Like a knife through butter’: Frankie Dettori collects 21st Classic in the Oaks at Epsom

Find out how this Classic race unfolded this afternoon (4 June)

(Image credit: Future)

Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 10 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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‘Like a knife through butter’: Frankie Dettori collects 21st Classic in the Oaks at Epsom

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 16:41:56 +0000

Frankie Dettori and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Snowfall, owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor, destroyed her rivals to win the Cazoo Oaks by an incredible 16 lengths on the first day of the Epsom Derby meeting (4 June).

“I’ve never ridden a Classic winner as easy as this one,” said 50-year-old Frankie. “They went far too quickly and I had everything beat on the home straight. I was afraid of [favourite] Santa Barbara, but as soon as I saw daylight in front of me, I thought ‘I’m going now’ and she took off — she went like a knife through butter.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

This victory sees Frankie equal the legendary Fred Archer’s record 21-strong tally of Classic wins. It was a 40th British Classic victory for Aidan O’Brien, plus a ninth Oaks win for the trainer.

“We thought Snowfall was very good last year and we kept running her in Group Ones, but she kept disappointing — maybe she got stronger and better over the winter,” said Aidan. “David, Jamie and Wayne, who look after her and ride Snowfall, were all very happy with her coming into this race and the way she’s won is unbelievable really. Frankie gave her a very good ride and she looks like a very special filly.”

The winning margin was a record for the Oaks, beating the previous best of 12 lengths by Sun Princess in 1983. The biggest winning margin in any British Classic is 20 lengths, recorded in the 1,000 Guineas in 1859.

Mystery Angel, a 50/1 outsider owned by Nick Bradley Racing 27 & Partner, finished second under Ben Curtis for young trainer George Boughey, while another Aidan O’Brien runner, Divinely, was third under Seamie Heffernan.

The favourite, Santa Barbara, finished in eventual fifth under Ryan Moore — she was held up in the rear of the field and never made an impression.

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2021 Epsom Oaks winner’s breeding

Snowball is bred in the purple; by Deep Impact, out of a Galileo mare called Best In The World, who is a sister of Found. Found clocked over £5m in prize money for the same connections as Snowball, including winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2016, plus the 2015 Breeders’ Cup.

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It’s almost time… here’s the full run down of this year’s Derby runners and riders: who is your pick?

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How to watch The Epsom Derby live from anywhere in the world

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Read the full report from the Derby meeting in the 10 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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Equestrian world says ‘please slow down’ after another road accident

Lucy Elder — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 10:41:22 +0000

A horse and rider were lucky to escape without serious injury in a fall on the road.

Camilla Swift was crossing the road in Epsom on 15 December when the filly she was riding was startled by a fast van, spooked and fell. None of the passing cars stopped to help.

Camilla, who was riding out for Roger Ingram at the time, told H&H they were at a road crossing to get to the Downs.

She said two people hit the “bop it” button to activate the horse crossing traffic lights and it lit up as if it had worked, but as they crossed the road, the lights in fact had not changed.

“There was nothing coming, so we went to cross and as we were, a van came off the roundabout,” she explained.

“There were three of us in high-vis jackets and high-vis numnahs, and we asked him to slow down but he didn’t.”

She added they made it off the road, but the speed startled the horse she was riding, who slipped and fell down onto the road they just had crossed.

“I think in a way the traffic lights don’t help as drivers stop for red, but they don’t stop if it’s green even if there’s something in the road,” said Camilla, adding that they are not riding on the roads, but do have to cross them to get to the training grounds.

“I don’t know if the van driver saw, but other cars did see what happened and had to slow down, but none of them stopped.”

The mare bolted home bucking, crossing another main road, and thankfully escaped unscathed while Camilla had concussion and a sore neck. One lady caught up with them in her car to say she had seen the horse and had missed hitting her, but that was the only offer of help they had from road users.

“She was just lucky she wasn’t hit; we’ve always said that up there when a horse gets loose you’re listening for the cars and the braking. It was the same place it happened to Gladden [who was fatally injured] in January and a couple of months ago a horse and lad fell there and cars drove round them.”

Horsemen, councillors, the Jockey Club and police are working to improve safety in the area, including a barrier and a downsman at the main entrance to the training ground to prevent loose horses from running on to the road, as happened with Gladden.

“We are pushing everyone to report incidents, and the same for people who keep their horses in Epsom,” added Camilla.

Article continues below…

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Police warning after cars drove round fallen horse and rider on the road

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Road incidents involving horses rise again: reporting and education is key H&H Plus

A statement from trainer Mr Ingram’s Facebook page added the team is proud to train on the Epsom Downs, but need help from the public to keep horses and riders safe.

“The road crossings are getting worse, with cars often speeding up to get through while our horses wait to cross or in fact honking their horns and revving,” he said.

“[On 15 December] what we were dreading happened. Cars wouldn’t stop to let our string cross the road with a van speeding past spooking one of our horses who slipped and landed on the rider, both are fortunately fine but none of the cars stopped to help.

“Please, if you are driving through the Epsom training area, go slowly and stop if you see horses crossing a road (whether traffic lights are red, amber or green) and don’t try to squeeze between two strings of horses.

“If you are walking, cycling or running please stop or give the horses a lot of space.

We love seeing people out in the mornings but for everyone’s safety please try to follow these guidelines.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Police warning after cars drove round fallen horse and rider on the road

Lucy Elder — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 11:10:03 +0000

A horse and rider who fell on to a road after the horse was spooked by a car were left in the carriageway as vehicles drove around them.

The incident was one of a number recently that prompted police in Epsom to urge drivers to slow down, take more care and leave extra time when crossing the Downs.

“We were back up at Epsom Downs early this morning following further incidents reported near to the Pegasus crossings including last week where a horse and rider who had been spooked by a car, fell on to the road and vehicles continued to drive around them while they were in the carriageway (through a red light),” said a statement from Surrey Police’s Epsom and Ewell team yesterday (22 September).

A spokesman for Surrey Police told H&H today (23 September) that police were made aware of a horse being spooked by a car on Downs Road in Epsom at around 9am on 14 September, causing the rider to be thrown.

“PCSOs located the rider and horse at a local stables and called in to check their welfare. There were no injuries,” the spokesman added.

⚠️ Tailgating then overtaking an unmarked police car due to running late for work = 3 points and £100 fine – (Fir Tree…Posted by Epsom and Ewell Beat (Surrey Police) on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Yesterday’s statement also urged pedestrians to take care at the Pegasus crossing — a push-button controlled crossing designed for use by riders as well as pedestrians — and wait for the green light after police witnessed a “near miss” between someone on foot and a van last week.

The force gave information for drivers as to how to safely pass horses on or near the road.

“If you are a horse rider, please also report all near-misses and incidents on the road to the BHS [British Horse Society] for their stats,” it added.

“#addthreeminutes to your journey if you are travelling over the Downs.”

Article continues below…

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The force also encouraged anyone interested in volunteering for the community speed watch focused on these “vulnerable areas” to email 12670@surrey.pnn.police.uk.

“If you have an interest in creating your own community speedwatch group in another location, please contact your local casualty reduction officer,” the statement added.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Record-breaking trainer Aidan O’Brien dominates both the Derby and Oaks

Hannah Lemieux — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 16:53:48 +0000

Aidan O’Brien dominated Investec Derby Day at Epsom today (Saturday, 4 July) with impressive wins in both the Derby and the Oaks.

Serpentine, who is owned by Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, was a 25/1 shot in the Investec Derby and one of six runners from O’Brien’s Irish stable.

Under Emmet McNamara, the three-year-old son of Derby victor Galileo took a clear lead turning for home and won comfortably by 5½ lengths to the Andrew Balding-trained Khalifa Sat (Tom Marquand) in second.

“It was unbelievable,” said Aidan. “Serpentine is from a great pedigree and we always thought he’d stay very well. We have been delighted with him at home.

“He is homebred by Galileo, so he has Derby pedigree in him – we are over the moon with the result,” added the record-breaking Derby trainer, who has won the Classic eight times now.

Galloping clear in the Oaks

The Investec Oaks was won by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Love (pictured, below), the 1000 Guineas winner, under Ryan Moore and for the same connections as the Derby winner.

The winning jockey was claiming the Oaks title for the third time following Snow Fairy in 2010 and Minding in 2016.

Love ridden by jockey Ryan Moore wins the Investec Oaks at Epsom Racecourse. (Image credit: PA)

The favourite, a three-year-old chestnut daughter of Galileo, beat stablemate Ennistymon (Seamie Heffernan) by nine lengths.

The long-time leaders, Passion and Tiempo Vuela, pushed ahead by 15 lengths before being caught by the rest of the field six furlongs out. The eventual winner took the helm two furlongs out before galloping clear of her rivals and winning impressively.

“I couldn’t have been happier with Love and I don’t think she could have been any more impressive today,” said Ryan.

“You never expect to win an Oaks – I don’t know how far she won by [nine lengths], but it felt like a very long way. She was exceptional today, hopefully she has got plenty to look forward to in the future and she would be a threat to anything.

“She wasn’t stopping at all, she actually got down to the rail and picked up again – she is very good.”

Don’t miss the full report from Investec Derby Day at Epsom in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound (9 July).

We continue to publish Horse & Hound weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

Epsom memories: A nostalgic look back at 7 horses who dominated this hallowed turf

Hannah Lemieux — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:24:26 +0000

With the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks taking place tomorrow (4 July), we take a trip down memory lane and reflect on some of the horses who have carved their names into the Epsom history books...

Nijinsky (1970 Derby)

File photo dated 10-09-1995 of Lester Piggott riding home Nijinsky in the 191st Derby Stakes at Epsom.. (Image credit: Press Association)

A Canadian-bred, Irish-trained horse, who went on to become a famous and versatile sire. Regarded by many as the greatest Flat horse in Europe during the 20^th Century, Nijinsky was the outstanding two-year-old in 1969 when unbeaten in five races. The following season, he became the first horse for 34 years to win the English Triple Crown (the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and St Leger) – a feat that is yet to be repeated.

Partnered by Lester Piggott, Nijinsky was an 11/8 shot going into the Derby, and his rivals included the French-bred colt Gyr. Nijinsky was held up in the race by Lester as usual, before moving forward in the home straight – by which time Gyr was in front. Two furlongs out, the favourite responded to Lester’s urgings and pulled ahead of Gyr to win by 2½ lengths. The runner-up’s jockey said Nijinsky was “just too good”.

Nijinsky went on to sire three Derby winners; Golden Fleece (1982), Shahrastani (1986) and Lammtarra (1995), plus 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand. He established the global reputation of his sire Northern Dancer and became the leading sire in Britain and Ireland, and the leading broodmare sire in North America.

Galileo (2001 Derby)

Mick Kinane riding Galileo (r) looks behind him to check that no one can challenge for the lead as he comes home to win the Vodafone Derby (Image credit: EMPICS Sport)

The 10-time champion stallion won the Classic race in 2001 and has sired three Derby winners including New Approach (2008), Ruler Of The World (2013) and Australia (2014). While two daughters have been victorious in the Oaks – Was (2012) and Minding (2016), plus he sired the superstar Frankel.

In the Derby, Galileo started 11/4 joint-favourite alongside the 2000 Guineas victor Golan. The field was considered strong but Galileo posted an impressive 3½ length victory over Golan, Tobougg and Mr Combustible. He was considered the best Derby winner in 10 years at the time.

Mill Reef (1971 Derby)

Mill Reef, ridden by G. Lewis, is led into the winners enclosure after winning the Derby Stakes at Epsom. (Image credit: Press Association)

In 1971, Mill Reef proved to be the outstanding middle-distance horse of the year, winning the Derby by two lengths from Linden Tree, the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Sadly the following year, Mill Reef broke a foreleg in training. A steel plate was inserted during a six-hour operation and he spent six weeks in plaster. Having made a full recovery, he retired to the National Stud and went on to sire Derby winners Shirley Heights (1978) and Reference Point (1987).

Lammtarra (1995 Derby)

PAP EPS2:10.6.1995: EPSOM: Lammtarra (left) wins the 1995 Vodafone Derby at Epsom Saturday afternoon from Tanure (centre). Picture by Sean Dempsey. Picture made with digital camera. (Image credit: Press Association)

Lammtarra’s Derby triumph in 1995 came following the death of his trainer Alex Scott aged 34, who had always dreamed of Epsom glory. The chestnut was a 14/1 chance to emulate his sire, Nijinsky, 25 years earlier, with Walter Swinburn in the saddle.

During the race, Lammtarra made up six lengths in the last 1½ furlongs and overtook Tamure in the final furlong, winning by a length. Lammtarra broke the track record that day and retired unbeaten. He was also the first Derby winner to be sired by a Derby winner (Nijinsky, 1970), out of an Oaks winner (Snow Bride, 1989).

Sea The Stars (2009 Derby)

Jockey Mick Kinane celebrates after winning the Investec Derby on Sea The Stars (Image credit: EMPICS Sport)

Sea The Stars shares a dam with fellow Derby victor Galileo in Urban Sea – she foaled Sea The Stars eight years after Galileo. Sea The Stars was magical during the 2009 season, winning six Group Ones and is regarded as one of the all-time greats.

He won the 2009 Derby despite doubts about his stamina and a strong field. Racing prominently, he reeled in the leader three furlongs out to win the Classic. His jockey, Mick Kinane, described the race as “easy” and like “slow motion”.

Girl power…

Enable (2017 Oaks)

Jockey Frankie Dettori celebrates after his winning ride on Enable in the Investec Oaks on Ladies Day during the 2017 Investec Epsom Derby Festival at Epsom Racecourse, Epsom. (Image credit: Press Association)

The John Gosden-trained supermare is a true Epsom gem of the 21^st Century, winning the 2017 Oaks in a hailstorm by five lengths. She also created a new race-record of 2min, 34.13sec. She went on to win the Irish Oaks, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (twice), Yorkshire Oaks (twice), Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (twice) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchull Downs.

She has remained in training for 2020 and will aim to win the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe for a third time, in October.

Pretty Polly (1904 Oaks)

One of the greatest half-dozen mares in racing history, bred 1899 by Persimmon out of Ornament, and changing hands surprisingly often. She ran 25 times. Her 13 wins included every classic, except the Derby, of 1902. Like her younger contemporary Pretty Polly she was a disappointment at stud in the short term, but an important influence in the long. The History of Horse Racing by Roger Longrigg, pages 276-7. (Image credit: Topfoto/Press Association Images)

As a three-year-old filly Pretty Polly not only won the Oaks at Epsom but the 1000 Guineas, the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, the St Leger Stakes – completing the Fillies’ Triple Crown – under William Lane.

Bred and owned by Major Eustace Loder and trained by Peter Gilpin, Pretty Polly won an impressive 22 races from 24 starts.

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Journalist to jockey blog: I will cherish this forever

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 09:55:22 +0000

Hi everyone,

First of all, please let me apologise for how long it’s taken me to sit down and write this blog. A few weeks have passed since the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom which seems mad. Unfortunately in the days following the race, some people who had been key supporters of mine in the run up to and during the race, were involved a serious car accident and it just didn’t feel right sitting down to write about my amazing experience. I can happily report though that they are well on the mend, so the time now feels right.

So, let’s rewind to 25 August, 48 hours before my race, which is where my last blog left us (this is a long one, so grab a cup of tea and a biscuit, and bear with me!).

After working Jerry on Mick Appleby’s gallops on the Friday, I bid him farewell as that was the last time I would see him until race day on the Monday. Thankfully this time of year is the busiest for me work-wise, with plenty of events to cover on top of the day-to-day work I carry out for Horse & Hound. In the run up to the race, this very much kept my mind busy and helped prevent me from over-thinking the whole thing.

Monday morning soon arrived, and with my kit bag packed, we were off to Epsom. Amazingly I wasn’t sick through nerves at any point during the day. The only thing I can put it down to is that I knew I had done all my preparation to the best of my ability, and everyone around me knew this. The only pressure came from myself and what I wanted to achieve, so any jangling of nerves was more due to the fact I wanted to perform as well as I could, and not because I was scared.

Pre-race team photo with Bob Champion. (Image credit: David Betteridge Photography)

Unfortunately due to traffic, we arrived a little too late to join in with the Bob Champion coursewalk — an opportunity missed, but something that was out of our hands. So I swiftly decamped and went to walk the course with my boyfriend Simon, who has some race riding experience. He is a brilliant calming influence but also competitive, which suits me very well. We talked tactics, assessed the going and made a plan. I had never been to Epsom before and the terrain and camber that I had been warned about was clear to see. Until you go and walk that course, you really don’t get a sense for just how rollercoaster-like the Derby course is — it’s gnarly!

It was then onto a smart lunch, which the organisers laid on for the charity race jockeys and their supporters. I was so lucky to have a small army of friends and family come down to Epsom to cheer me on. There was over 20 of us in total and it meant the world to me, so thank you to all of you — you know who you are.

One half of my support crew! (Image credit: David Betteridge Photography)

I caught up with Bob at the lunch and we talked through the game plan for the race. Darby Dennis, who we know from home and who is on Epsom’s racecourse committee, who was very kind with his well wishes. Surprisingly (although perhaps less surprisingly to those that know me and my piggish appetite!), I managed to eat the first two courses of the lunch (I’m not a dessert person anyway), no problem at all — no sign of me not wanting to eat due to nerves! There was a fab auction and raffle and we also had a great vantage point in the suite we were in to watch some of the early races. All of the winners were coming stand-side on the home straight, which was my plan when I walked the course.

Talking tactics with Bob and Spencer Sturmey (Image credit: David Betteridge Photography)

I then went to meet Laura Morgan, the trainer of my horse Jerry (Gee Sixty Six), and her great lass Kate Hanson. I was and still am so grateful to them for trekking all the way down from just north of Oakham so that I could ride in the race.

Then, when it was 4pm, all of us charity jockeys went down to the changing rooms to start getting ready, and for me to get into my wonderful Velcourt-sponsored kit. It was a surreal experience, rubbing shoulders with the other female professional jockeys — not for the first time on this incredible journey, I felt like a total fraud! But we all had a chat and a laugh and the general feeling was that of excitement. I then went to the very friendly valet, who sorted out the weight I needed to carry in addition to what I already weighed with all my race kit on. Although I didn’t have to carry nearly as much lead as tiny fellow charity race jockey Georgia King, who carried a remarkable four-and-a-half stone extra to make the 12 stone racing weight, I still struggled to carry everything!

Jerry beautifully turned out by Laura and Kate before the race (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I weighed out with the clerk of the scales and handed my saddle over to Laura, who then went off to saddle Jerry in preparation.

It was then time for us jockeys to have a few photos taken and talk some last-minute tactics. I firmed up that I was going to come stand side on the home straight and was reassured by the fact Alex Embiricos said she was going to do the same thing, as she has much more racing knowledge than I do!

Talking more tactics with Alex Embiricos pre-race. (Image credit: David Betteridge Photography)

And then it was time. The moment we had all worked so hard to prepare for. I had a tiny twinge of nerves, but honestly I surprised myself in how relaxed I was. I was just dying to get on and enjoy it — I honestly couldn’t wait. We all walked out to the parade ring and it was great to see my friends and family there supporting, and Jerry looking absolutely fantastic — Laura and Kate had turned him out so beautifully, four-leaf clover quarter-marks and all. He looked the bee’s knees.

Walking out to the parade ring (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I chatted to Laura, Simon and point-to-point jockey and trainer Dale Peters, who had also helped me so much in the run-up to the race. I can’t remember what was said as it was all a bit of a blur, and before I knew it, the bell was rung signalling for jockeys to mount.

Excited to get going! (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I’m pleased to report that my leg-up went without incident and I didn’t fall straight off the other side — phew! We made sure that I got on Jerry as late as possible so that we could try to keep him relaxed and so we pretty much went straight down to the course (via some very amazing, but also very noisy supporters of mine, hence my cringe worthy sshhh-ing in the video below!).

All was fine walking down the shoot towards the course — we were at the back, just where we wanted to be, until suddenly Georgia’s horse did some unplanned acrobatics, depositing her the other side of the white rails in the process. Thankfully they were both fine, but this meant I was now in front of her. This doesn’t sound like it should have been a problem, but unfortunately it was.

I took Jerry to the far side of the course for the trip down to the start, to try and keep him away from the noise and crowds. This worked very well and I had him anchored, but then, completely understandably, as I was only steadily cantering, Jerry spotted Georgia go past. For us, that was the beginning of the end of our race. Going to the start at Epsom was the bit I have always been most worried about — as the track isn’t circular, you have to go the full 1m4f distance of the race to get to the start. We knew keeping a lid on Jerry for this was going to be our sticking point, and we definitely weren’t wrong. He cantered sweetly enough, but we were all instructed to walk the final seven furlongs to the start, as they tend to do in the Derby itself. The only problem for us was that this prolonged the amount of time Jerry had to get wound up. I tried my absolute hardest to keep him settled by not holding onto much rein and reminding myself to keep breathing and chilled too, while all the time talking to him, but he became quite warm and was very on his toes. I think mentally he had already run his race by this point.

Still, we had to focus on the next part which was the race itself and getting a good start. It had been drilled into me that races can be won or lost at the start, so I made completely sure I was exactly where I wanted to be. To my surprise, this actually happened exactly how I had planned it, and when the starter dropped his flag, we were spot on. We couldn’t have wished for a better start.

So off we went, not at a mad pace, but just right. I reminded myself to breathe and realise this was it. This is what I have been working for ever since I found out I was going to be riding in the race months and months ago. And boy, was it amazing!

Jerry seemed quite settled until a couple of other horses came to him and he then took a real pull. I told myself not to panic and to keep my hands down and weight against him. The first seven furlongs is all uphill, so by the time we got there, Jerry had settled back down again. We turned to start coming down the hill towards the famous Tattenham corner. People told me this feels like a rollercoaster, and it did. I did my best to keep a good hold of Jerry’s head to keep him in balance, and before I knew it we were coming out of the bend and onto the home straight. We got to the three furlongs to go pole and I looked up the hill to the finish line — I never thought we were going to make it — it looked so far away! I made my move to come stand side, as did a few others, but the rest stayed on the far side rail. I gave Jerry a squeeze and unfortunately I didn’t get much of a response. This meant I was going to have to debut my rather unrefined ‘riding a race finish’ style — which isn’t stylish AT ALL (see picture, top!).

Coming up the home straight (Image credit: creditUnknown)

People started to come past me and my heart sank every time they did — the places were slipping away, but I absolutely would not give up. I hadn’t worked this hard to just throw in the towel. So on I kicked and wobbled about a bit, channelling my inner non-existent Ryan Moore. Gorgeous Jerry kept going for me and we finished eighth. NOT LAST!! In my heart of hearts I would have loved to finish in the top four so that we got in the winners’ enclosure, but hey, a couple of weeks before the race, I didn’t even have a horse to ride, so this result wasn’t too shabby at all.

Georgia and Sula Island seemingly cantered to victory — on the bridle with a very stylish 16-year-old Georgia on board. What a thrill that must have been! Sixty-year-old Lucia Borradaile, who put us all to shame in our fitness assessment in May, was second, meaning the top two were Alan King-trained. While the lovely Spencer Sturmey was third on a horse trained by Jamie Osborne. I saw Spencer just two days later at the first Burghley trot-up, and he had already decided he was going to buy himself a point-to-pointer!

Struggling to hold my saddle post-race…! (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I got off Jerry once we had pulled up and took his saddle off, which nearly saw me fall over with the weight of it combined with my jelly legs! Everyone came to say well done and the realisation that it was all over started to sink in.

I said a big thank you and goodbye to Laura, Kate and Jerry, who went back to the stables to get ready to head home, while my supportive gang went to a room where the winning connections head to on normal race days, for a celebratory drink. Simon helped me carry my saddle back to the weighing room and after a quick change I also joined in on the celebrations. It was here that all jockeys received the most fantastic momento of the day — a mini Epsom-style iPad, which had our race downloaded onto it so that we can relive the experience again and again.

Post-race celebrations with some of my amazing supporters (Image credit: creditUnknown)

At the last count, £88,576.57 had been raised in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony — a truly brilliant effort by everyone.

Continued below…

(Image credit: David Betteridge Photography)

From journalist to jockey: this is it — suddenly everything feels very real…

There’s a little over 48 hours to go until the big race

And so that’s the end of that chapter, although hopefully not the very end of my racing one. I now ride out as much as I can at Dale’s yard, where I will soon be trying my hand at having a go over some fences with his pointers. I decided I want to win a race, and then I will happily retire from it. I can’t settle for one eighth place — I want more! So, perhaps I might be seen point-to-pointing at some stage in the future, but if not, I am definitely going to continue riding out as, aside from really enjoying it, it continues to help my day-to-day riding.

I knew that this whole experience would be a fun thing to try, but I never in a million years dreamed it would have the affect on me it has. I’ve met some truly inspirational people and some incredible horses on this crazy journey — thank you to each and every one of you. I will cherish this forever.

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

From journalist to jockey: this is it — suddenly everything feels very real…

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 13:12:15 +0000

Well, this is it — the Champions Willberry Charity Derby is now a little over 48 hours away and everything is starting to feel very real. When I found out back in November last year that I would be riding in the race, it obviously felt a very long way away. But now it’s time to put into practice everything I’ve worked hard on over the past few months — I really want to make it all worthwhile. Although winning might not be quite within our reach having seen a list of the other horses in the race, I just want to give it my best shot and not look back on it wishing I could have done better. Most of all, I don’t want to let the horse (now nicknamed Gorgeous Jerry by myself) and everyone who has supported me down.

I really want to give my fundraising effort one last push — sorry, it’s probably getting annoying for you by now! But please do head over here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup and donate whatever you can. All the money is going to two incredible charities; Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, so please dig deep and, as I’ve said before, even if it’s £1, you will make a difference.

Yesterday morning (Friday) I rode Jerry in the one and only piece of proper work I was able to squeeze in before the race (see video top). I met his trainer, Laura Morgan, and Kate Hanson, who works for Laura, at local Flat trainer Mick Appleby’s yard near Oakham.

Jerry and I on the gallops (Image credit: creditUnknown)

It was a great opportunity to give Jerry a proper workout on Mick’s gallop and get a feel for his gears and how and when to use them. The gallop also had a little downhill stretch which was useful to ride to get a feel of how Jerry might be when we’re going down and round the famous Tattenham Corner at Epsom.

I’m thrilled to report Jerry was fabulous — he’s such a gent and I hope it stays that way come Monday!

Gorgeous Jerry (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I’ve tried to keep up with my fitness and I feel a lot stronger than I did a couple of months ago. Unfortunately though (this is the competitive person in me speaking!), we all have to carry the same weight — 12st. This means that I’ve had to borrow a one-stone saddle and by the time I’m kitted out, I will still need to carry around 1.5 stone in lead. This is less than ideal from a racing perspective as it’s all dead weight, as opposed to weight that can actually be useful.

Excitingly I picked up my freshly embroidered kit from Racesafe HQ yesterday. Thanks to the team there, it looks very professional (insert joke about all the gear and no idea here…!). Again, I’m so grateful to Velcourt, a leading provider of farm business management and advisory services in the UK and overseas, for sponsoring my kit.

My freshly embroidered kit (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Everything is in place now, so it’s full-steam ahead. I have one more ride on Jerry tomorrow morning and then the next time I see him will be in the paddock before my race — argh! I’ve had all sorts of weird dreams and nightmares about the day, such as falling off as soon as I’m legged-up and also falling off at the start and watching the wonderful Jerry win the race without me, but thankfully the track in that particular nightmare was right-handed and not left like Epsom, so I’m praying it’s not a premonition!

I’m also so excited to have a bus-load of friends and family coming to support, enjoy the day and also hopefully keep me distracted — we need to be at Epsom at 11.30am to walk the course and enjoy a fundraising lunch, but my race isn’t until 5.55pm, so there’s a lot of time to get nervous!

Continues below…

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

From journalist to jockey: a panic search comes good

There’s just five days to go until the big race...

I will be in among some great other runners and riders, including Lucia Borradaile, who is rumoured to become the oldest competitor to ride around the Derby course at the age of 60. This is the same Lucia that put us all to shame in our fitness assessment at the British Racing School in May, so she is not to be underestimated! At the other end of the scale, 16-year-old Georgia King, daughter of trainer Alan King, is also having a go. She looks to be on a very good horse, and she is obviously very familiar with the racing world, not to mention the fact she recently represented Great Britain at the Pony European Eventing Championships. It’s going to be a hot race, but as long as we all enjoy it and runners and riders come back in one piece, it will be a success.

Wish us luck!

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

From journalist to jockey: a panic search comes good

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 13:24:34 +0000

The big day is just around the corner, and I can’t wait to get going in the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom on Monday (27 August).

I’m going to start this blog with a big plea… Please, if you can possibly spare any size of donation to my fundraising efforts, I would be so grateful. All money raised goes to two amazing charities; Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust. The link to my fundraising page is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup A huge thank you to those who have already generously donated, and I hope I don’t let you down on Monday.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

My biggest news is that I have a horse to ride! After some unforeseen circumstances, I found myself a couple of weeks ago with no horse to ride in the race. I think I cried for about 10 seconds and then realised that wasn’t going to get me anywhere, so a nationwide search was put into action. After hundreds of emails, phone calls, and messages, thanks to some very helpful people, a horse was sourced. The wonderful Michael Grange put me in touch with trainer Laura Morgan, who very helpfully, is based just 25 minutes from home.

Gee Sixty Six (Jerry) (Image credit: creditUnknown)

On Saturday Laura very kindly said she had a horse I could ride in the race, but unfortunately I was away covering the Pony Club Championships in Cheshire for work until late on Monday. The days seemed to drag by until, yesterday morning (Tuesday), I was introduced to the drop dead gorgeous Gee Sixty Six, or Jerry (pictured throughout and leading in the video) as he’s known at home.

Jerry is a big, bright bay four-year-old, who Laura bought this summer. He has run in 16 races, up to two-miles, all on the Flat bar one hurdles race.

It was love at first sight for me, and now, two rides in, I feel like we should be OK on Monday. Winning might not be within our reach, but as long as we enjoy ourselves, I will be happy.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

I will be riding a proper piece of work on Jerry on Friday and hopefully that will set me up mentally for the challenge on Monday. Everything crossed!

I continued to ride out at Charlie Appleby’s until Jerry came into my life, and I’m hoping to go back there to ride out after the race, mostly to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Continues below…

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Journalist to jockey blog: my nerves are starting to jangle

The countdown to race day is on as there is less than two weeks to go...

In other news, it seems this race riding training has had a positive impact on my day-to-day riding too. I took my own horse, Basil, cross-country schooling with my trainer, four-star event rider Richard Jones recently and he announced: “What’s happened? It looks like you’ve finally got some lead in your pencil!” I do feel like I’ve got more grit and determination than I had six months ago. I had no idea that this race would have such a big impact on me, but it has. I just want to get out there and make the most of it all now.

T-minus five days!

Gemma

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Journalist to jockey blog: my nerves are starting to jangle

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 09:55:10 +0000

There’s now just under two weeks until the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom (27 August), and my nerves are starting to jangle. To combat this, every time the race pops into my mind, I quickly try to focus on something else — my thought process being, if I let myself get wound up about it with 13 days to go, I will likely hardly be able to walk come race day, let alone ride!

I have been heading to ride out at Charlie Appleby’s yard in Newmarket three times a week. I have to pinch myself every time I drive in through the electric gates adorned with the Godolphin logo, and I will be terribly sad when this whole experience is over.

I have met some wonderful people at Charlie’s and have learnt a great deal. I realised early doors that I couldn’t ask too many questions — the more I could learn about race and work riding, the better. Not to mention the fact that there are plenty of people in Charlie’s team that have ridden at Epsom and in the Derby itself (which is the course I will be racing over), so I have absorbed any advice they have offered on how to ride the track.

My first lot — a three-year-old who likes to take a hold! (Image credit: creditUnknown)

A real ‘is this really happening to me?’ moment occurred just a couple of weeks ago. As usual, I arrived at Charlie’s to ride two lots at 5.30am. I tacked up my first horse and as a bit of a change to normal proceedings, I was sent down to the main yard’s covered trotting ring where the big guns hang out, instead of staying at up at the yard I was usually riding horses from.

After a few laps of trot we peeled out of the trotting ring and Charlie said to me “You’re going up the grass today to ride a piece of work. Follow that horse in front of you until the three-furlong pole, then ease your horse upsides him, and then James will join you on the other side of you.”

That’s cool, I thought — how exciting to be allowed to ride a proper piece of work. Then I realised the James he was on about was none other than James Doyle. This is the same James Doyle who recently recorded his 1,000th career win, and the King George at Royal Ascot in June, not to mention the Irish Oaks last month too. No pressure then.

I was so nervous about messing it all up, but with Charlie’s instructions ringing in my ear, off we went. It was fantastic. I’ve most definitely never ridden a horse at such speed. I just kept telling myself to “keep straight or you’ll cause a bloody disaster”. The horse I was riding was one I have ridden almost every morning I’ve been at Charlie’s — he is usually on the keen side, but riding at a faster pace definitely made life a lot easier and I could actually fully enjoy the experience.

My stirrups are getting shorter! (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Upon finishing my morning’s riding out, I soon realised that the day marked two years since the tragic passing of Hannah Francis, the founder of her Willberry the Wonder Pony charity. Although I never met Hannah, I took a moment to remember her and the incredible legacy she has left behind. I am so fortunate to have this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I hope all of us can do her proud and raise a huge amount of money at Epsom. Please, please, please, if you can, donate to my fundraising page — all proceeds raised will be split between Hannah’s charity and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

On the equicizer (Image credit: creditUnknown)

In other news, I have secured a great sponsor for the race itself in the form of Velcourt, a farm business management and advisory service. I’m so grateful to them for agreeing to sponsor me and thanks to the wonderful Tom and James How at Racesafe, my Velcourt-embroidered kit is currently being prepared.

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I have also been lucky enough to have access to an equicizer, thanks to the Thorpe-Codman family, who live locally. Thanks also to the boots and one-stone racing saddle leant to me by point-to-pointing friend Lucy Wheeler, and proper breeches leant to me by my boyfriend Simon (well, I say leant, I don’t think he has fitted into them since his pointing days, so I will claim them as my own now!) I took the opportunity to have a session on the equicizer with all this kit to get a rough idea for how things will feel come race day.

Dale Peters, a friend and local point-to-point trainer and jockey (the current Midlands area champion), came to give me some advice. I wanted to learn how to ride some sort of finish, as although we aren’t allowed to use whips during the race, I still want to be able to have a positive affect on the horse in the run-in. Dale had me riding normally for a minute before getting to work for another minute — goodness know what I looked like, but I felt the burn — oddly not in my legs, which are reasonably strong, but everywhere else felt like it was going to fall to bits!

Anyway, the Thorpe-Codmans have kindly said I am welcome to their equicizer any time I would like, so I hope to make good use of it during the next couple of weeks.

The countdown is on!

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

From journalist to jockey: I’ve got myself possibly the coolest gig going…

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:55:19 +0000

Hi everyone,

A lot has happened since I last blogged about my preparation for the Pertemps Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom (27 August — dear God, it’s less than five weeks away…!). In short, I have found myself riding out at one of the best yards anyone could wish to ever possibly visit, let alone ride at.

This all came about when Bob Champion called me saying “I’ve got you a trainer sorted. Come down to the Spring Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse and I can introduce you to him.”

So off I toddled one afternoon to be introduced to Charlie Appleby, who trains horses for racing giant, Godolphin, and who just so happened to train this year’s Epsom Derby winner, Masar.

A few weeks later at 4.20am, I typed in the postcode of the Moulton Paddocks yard from which Charlie runs his UK operation for Godolphin on the outskirts of Newmarket, and off I went.

I was completely crippled with nerves — it felt like my first day at school again. Would everyone laugh at how terrible a ‘jockey’ I was? Would I fall off? Would I get run away with? Would I ever be able to show my face at the yard ever again? I genuinely felt sick to my stomach.

Just one of the yards at Moulton Paddocks (Image credit: creditUnknown)

There are no words to describe the set-up I was met by. If ever there was a place that would best represent horse heaven, this was it. There are several yards on the estate, all totally immaculate. Stables with shavings beds made to perfection. Horses with coats so shiny, you could see your face in them. A number of private gallops — grass and all-weather over varying distances. And staff — loads of them!

This stable has been previously occupied by some impressive horses including Dubai Millennium and Dubai Destination (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I was greeted warmly by everyone, all in matching ‘Godolphin blue’ and assigned my first horse to ride; a six-year-old. The first lot pulled out at 6am and off we went, initially trotting around a circular all-weather, before a 15 minute hack through the estate to the gallop we were using on those horses that morning — an eight-furlong woodchip — under the watchful eye of Charlie and his assistant, Alex Merriam.

Ready to go (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I survived! And I survived the next lot too; a gorgeous two-year-old filly. And actually, I’ve survived all the ones I’ve ridden out since then (famous last words — I bet I get decked tomorrow morning…).

I drive down twice a week to ride two lots each time at the moment — the 4am alarm isn’t particularly welcoming, but actually it is great as I can fit it in before work starts at 10am — thankfully I work from home four days a week so there is nobody judging my horsey odour when I open my laptop to start my working day!

The view from the top of just one of the gallops (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Everyone is so friendly and so free and generous in sharing their advice. I thought I was riding pretty short, but apparently not — I definitely still looked like I was riding at dressage length in comparison. So each time I go and ride out, I put my stirrups up another hole — I think I’m nearly there now (riding much shorter than these pictures show), and actually, as it was pointed out to me, it makes life a lot easier when trying to hold one that is a bit keen.

Hacking back from the gallops (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I know I’m probably not supposed to have favourites, but I have to admit I do; a three-year-old bay gelding who (so far!) has really looked after me, and allowed me to get to grips with things, such as position, my hands, reins and acclimatising to the pace these Flat horses travel at — upon reaching the top of the gallop on my first morning, a jockey commented I wasn’t meant to be puffing more than the horse. I explained the adrenaline rush was incredible — it took me until lunchtime to stop shaking…

I am so incredibly fortunate to be getting the once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in this brilliant charity race. Just writing it gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait, but at the same time, I don’t want the race to come around, because then it will all be over.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Talking of the race, I am currently in search of sponsorship for the clothing I will wear. There are three spots available for companies to display their name on my kit — on the leg of my breeches, on the neck line of my base layer and at the top of the back of my breeches. This is a great way to get involved with a truly historic day and an opportunity to advertise your brand in a unique way, with all money going to the two great charities; Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. If you think you might be interested, or would like more details, please do get in touch with me via gemma.redrup@ti-media.com — all suggestions are very welcome!

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You might have also seen that the race is being supported by a unique lunch, which is being held in the wonderful Diomed suite, with panoramic views and balcony overlooking the racecourse and Epsom Downs. Guests will be welcomed from 11.30am onwards with a champagne reception followed by a delicious three-course lunch. All the charity race riders will be there, plus celebrities from the racing and equestrian world, giving you a great opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the equestrian world’s big names. Not only that, but afternoon tea will also be served. Tickets are £125 per person, which includes racecourse entry — if you’re interested, please please visit www.championswillberry.org.uk or email lucy@bobchampion.org.uk.

My boyfriend and I also recently managed to find the only five nights we both had free in our diaries between now and next summer, and made a last-minute escape to Majorca. I took it upon myself to take full advantage of our all inclusive deal, Aperol Sprtiz’s et al, and have returned refreshed but unfortunately also quite fat — back on with the trainers it is…!

Finally, as always, please do feel free to donate to my fundraising page here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup All donations, no matter what size are so welcome as I’m desperate to raise as much as I can for both wonderful charities — thank you to anyone that already has!

Gemma

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

7 reasons you really need to be at Epsom for the Champions Willberry Charity Derby

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 11:25:06 +0000

Next month on Bank Holiday Monday (27 August), the first ever charity race will take place at Epsom Racecourse (pictured) — the Champions Willberry Charity Derby — and you could be there.

Epsom is the home of arguably the most famous Flat race in the world, the Derby, and this year the charity riders will be riding around exactly the same course and distance as this historic race, which will prove to be an almighty challenge and experience.

Here are just a few reasons why you should be there, plus one incredible opportunity that would make your day a particularly memorable one…

1. The race is being supported by a unique lunch, which is being held in the wonderful Diomed suite, with panoramic views and balcony overlooking the racecourse and Epsom Downs. Guests will be welcomed from 11.30am onwards with a champagne reception followed by a delicious three-course lunch. All the charity race riders will be there, plus celebrities from the racing and equestrian world, giving you a great opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the equestrian world’s big names. Not only that, but afternoon tea will also be served.

2. A full card of great racing is on offer with the Charity Derby following the last race.

3. To help with the fundraising for the event, there will be an auction and raffle taking place during the day. The Diomed Suite offers the opportunity for guests to really relax and enjoy themselves with family and friends, have the best view of the racing and hopefully have a few winners.

4. The lunch and race are both running to raise money for two wonderful charities; The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony. Bob Champion will be there on the day.

5. The race is held on the Bank Holiday Fun Day fixture at Epsom, which offers not just great racing, but fabulous entertainment for all of the family too. Gates open at 11.30am with the first race at 2.05pm and the final race at 5.25pm.

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6. You could make a full day of it by visiting local trainers, who are opening their stables on the morning of this meeting. The morning starts at 8.30am where you will be able to see the horses out training on the gallops and then from 9.30am the trainers will be opening up their yards.

7. All under-18s go free on this particular race day.

To book tickets or a table for the charity lunch, or to find out more about the event or the charities please visit www.championswillberry.org.uk or email lucy@bobchampion.org.uk. Lunch tickets are £125 per person and this price includes racecourse entry.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

From journalist to jockey: a serious wake up call

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 17 May 2018 09:55:13 +0000

Preparations for the Champions Willberry Derby charity race at Epsom in August have stepped up a notch, and the reality of what lies ahead is really starting to hit me.

Last Wednesday (9 May) myself and six fellow Epsom jockeys had an assessment day at the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket, which is a truly fabulous facility.

To try and give myself a chance at not completely embarrassing myself in the assessment, I met Bob [Champion] back at Palace House in Newmarket the week before for a refresher session on the Equicizer.

Thankfully I hadn’t forgotten everything he had taught me and I found that the time I could spend on the Equicizer had increased which was encouraging.

Posted by Bob Champion on Friday, May 4, 2018

I then went to ride out for friends Dale Peters and Nat Richardson at their point-to-point yard. I say ‘ride out for them’, but really it is more a case of them letting me steal one of their horses and then hoping I don’t ruin it!

They were very kind and let me canter a horse called You Too Pet, who has enjoyed a very successful season of point-to-pointing with three wins and had just finished well at the Hunter Chase evening at Cheltenham.

Importantly I didn’t fall off and I didn’t seem to annoy the horse — success!

So it was on to assessment day and although really looking forward to the experience, I have to admit I was also completely terrified. There were so many things that I could do wrong or badly, but I tried to put them to the back of my mind, telling myself that it wasn’t like I was a professional jockey whose career depended on the outcome.

It was great to finally meet some of the other people taking part in the race — Deborah Auld, Lucia Borradaile, Abigail Groves, Heather Larson, Alex Monro and Camilla Swift. Most of them had already met each other when they walked the course at Epsom a few weeks ago, but unfortunately as I was at the Punchestown Festival in Ireland, watching some brilliant racing, I couldn’t make it. It was also interesting to hear how their fundraising efforts are going and I feel like this is a good place for me to ask if you do have even just £1 to donate, please do! My fundraising page is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup and any donation would be fantastic, thank you.

We were welcomed, briefed and weighed by Richard Perham, a senior jockey coach at the BRS, who let us know what we were in for with regards to our assessment. I think it’s safe to say everyone in the room knew they were in for some rigorous testing.

The first task of the day was a fitness test, beginning with the bleep test. I was quietly confident as I am a frequent runner, and was pleased to finish equal first of the group with Alex. Sadly my performance peaked there…!

The ensuing challenges, comprising leg raises to the beat of a metronome, wobble cushion squats, a plank, elastic band pushes, a press-up and hold and exercise ball squats, were nothing short of hellish and overall I was disappointed. My leg strength was a great deal better than the rest of me. I smashed my collarbone in a nasty rotational fall while eventing nine years ago and it is now virtually non-existent, so I have always steered clear of doing any sort of upper body strengthening exercises as it is very painful. Well, as I was on the floor of the BRS gym, attempting to sustain my press-up, I wish I had tried to do something about it!

On the Racewood equicizer (Image credit: creditUnknown)

I must at this point say a huge well done to Lucia, who as the oldest member of our group, absolutely smashed it — her fitness was equal to that of a professional jockey and put us all to shame.

The point was hammered home to us — although this is a charity race, it is a very serious challenge. Every racing person I tell that I’m riding the Derby course at Epsom looks at me in horror. It is widely regarded as the most difficult Flat course in Britain, if not the world, due to its twists, turns and camber. The racing world can’t have a bunch of unfit riders on supremely fit racehorses going round such a tough course. Point duly noted, I am considerably upping the content of my home workouts.

With that out of the way, it was time for the fun bit — riding.

We were all wired up with earpieces so that Richard could talk to us while we were on board and then handed our tack and assigned our horses.

It’s safe to say I fell in love with my horse; Astrovirtue, a seven-year-old who previously ran on the Flat. He was foot-perfect throughout the ridden assessment which involved trotting around the round gallop as a string and then doing some slightly quicker work in pairs (bright bay pictured top, getting some advice from Bob). I untacked Astrovirtue and said a big thank you to him for being so understanding with me!

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After some lunch, we all headed to a room with four Equicizers in it. Here we were able to ride a Racewood equicizer, which is wired up to a TV screen which plays headcam footage from a real race.

Richard chose a two-mile race to try and replicate the amount of time we will be riding at Epsom. We also practised changing our hands, which is essentially a way of keeping your reins nice and short to help keep the horse balanced, and also tried getting lower into the saddle to start riding some sort of finish. To my surprise, I didn’t get too tired and although far from stylish, I feel like I am improving.

Sadly our day was then complete — my brain was fried with information and I had jelly legs, but I would have loved to have stayed there a few more days to learn even more.

Over the next few weeks, I will concentrate on riding out more frequently. I’ve got a trainer in Newmarket lined up to help me do this and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity. Beautiful early summer mornings riding out in Newmarket — what’s not to love?

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

This week’s magazine, out 17 May, features our full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action plus much more

From journalist to jockey: looking like a pillock

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 09:55:10 +0000

Hi everyone,

My training for the Pertemps Champions Willberry Derby at Epsom in August has started in earnest.

Bob Champion, my mentor for this very daunting challenge, gave me a call and suggested I should have a go on an Equicizer in Newmarket. Handily, Newmarket is only about 45 minutes from home, so I drove down there one Saturday morning and met up with Bob.

He took me to Palace House, the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing, and here we met up with the wonderful Frank Conlon and the Equicizer.

Frank is a real salt of the Earth kind of man. He was Henry Cecil’s head lad for 14 years and is an equine tour guide for Palace House. I got the impression that what Frank doesn’t know about Newmarket, probably isn’t worth knowing.

I hopped onto the Equicizer and suddenly found myself feeling increasingly nervous. As I said in my previous blog, I am clueless when it comes to knowing how to be a ‘jockey’, and the thought of sitting in a racing saddle with my stirrups seemingly round my ears while being watched by Bob and Frank, made me feel totally embarrassed. That coupled with the fact two youngsters, probably around 10 years younger than me, who work for Flat trainer Luca Cumani were there watching as I interrupted their Equisizer session, just made things worse.

Then it dawned on me. Nobody cares. Nobody cares if I look like a pillock to start with — that’s the whole point. I’m not trying to be a professional jockey and everyone there very much knew I was a work in progress. So I told myself to stop being so bl**dy stupid and just got on with it.

To start with, the Equicizer was in ‘halt’. Frank asked me to get into my racing position — bridged reins, hands up the ‘horse’s’ neck and bum in the air.

Bob and Frank immediately told me to lower the front of my body down towards the horse more — I was too upright in my position and definitely looked like an amateur event rider doing a jockey impression. There was an instant change and I gave myself a good talking to and vowed to never have my body too upright again (I don’t like making the same mistake twice — it makes life annoying for those trying to help you!).

We got into a ‘gallop’ and all was fine until, ouch. I soon realised I had dressed wrong. We all know jeans with no chaps makes for a painful time while riding, so why didn’t I think this through before I came to have a go on the Equisizer. I didn’t admit the pinching pain I was experiencing on the inside of my legs to anyone, but I now have the scabs to prove it! Lesson learnt…

I could manage a two to three minutes at a time on the Equicizer. I wasn’t doing anything other than holding myself in place. Now the fastest ever time the Epsom Derby has been run in was 2 minutes 31.33 seconds by Workforce in 2010. It goes without saying that our race won’t be run in anywhere near that sort of time, but I evidently have some work to do fitness-wise. And we haven’t even started training in how to ride a finish…

I did about four on and off sessions on the Equicizer, and while I was resting from one, Bob got onto the machine and had a go. I hope I can still do that when I’m 69!

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So my fitness work continues, including completing a 10 mile run in gale force blizzards last week in a little over one hour 20 minutes (I can’t say it was a nice experience!) and with the Cheltenham Festival now sadly over and done with, I will be resuming training with Bob.

After launching my blog, I have received some wonderful donations — thank you to each and every one of you. If you haven’t donated but are feeling particularly generous, please do feel free to donate to my page, which is raising money for both The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, two fantastic and worthy causes.

Gemma x

‘The thrill of a lifetime’: line-up for Champions Willberry Charity Derby revealed

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 07:00:07 +0000

The 12 riders who will race in the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom, have been revealed.

The race, which will take place over the same course and distance as the Epsom Derby on Monday 27 August 2018 (Bank Holiday Monday), saw 150 people apply from all corners of the UK.

Ten riders join the two cousins that have already been announced, Lissa Green, rising eventing talent and daughter of eventing legend Lucinda Green MBE, and Lara Prior-Palmer, winner of the 2013 Mongol Derby. Lara’s entry is particularly poignant as she battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2017.

The other riders taking part are (in alphabetical order):

Joseph Akehurt, 29, is based near Ipswich. He is currently a groom working with horses being transported around the world by plane, has worked and ridden for many trainers and has been involved with the Shetland Pony Grand National

Deborah Auld, 26, owns an equine feed store in East Lothian. Having ridden all her life, she pre-trains her own racehorses

Lucia Borradaile, 60, from Dorset, is now retired and spends a lot of time cycling. She is a former point-to-point rider who rode in the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 1995

Alex Embiricos, 50, has been connected to the Bob Champion story all of her life, her father owning Aldaniti, the horse who carried Bob to Grand National glory in 1981. Based in Sussex, she works as a freelance expedition leader

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, 28, of Qatar is chairman of Qatar Racing, a passionate supporter of British racing and an equestrian enthusiast who took part in the 2016 Mongol Derby

Tim Gredley, 32, has represented Great Britain at showjumping. Based in Newmarket, he now rides in point-to-points as well as running his own company

Abigail Groves, 49, is a cancer and end of life care manager, based near Epsom in Surrey. A keen horsewoman, she competes in showjumping and will be celebrating her 50th birthday this year

Heather Larson, 25, from Somerset is a showjumper and director of a sports horse company. She and Hannah Francis were friends who started out in the Wyle Valley Pony Club together

Alex Monro, 45, works in Devon for Mole Energy Switching, a division of Mole Valley Farmers. A British young rider in the 1990s, he has competed at eventing and showjumping internationally and point-to-pointed

Gemma Redrup, 27, from Rutland is a journalist at Horse & Hound magazine. She is a keen horsewoman who has competed across many disciplines

Reserves (in alphabetical order):

John Nielson, 51, a company director from Co Durham
John Reddington, 45, a company director from Hertfordshire
Laura Rolph, 32, a BSJA Training Co-ordinator from Oxfordshire
Camilla Swift, 29, a journalist and editor from Surrey

The race will be run in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, the inaugural race in April 2017 having raised over £120,00 for the two charities.

On behalf of the two charities, Epsom Racecourse and the event committee, Bob Champion said: “It was brilliant to have so many suitable and enthusiastic people entering the race. We are all thrilled with our line-up of 12 from all different parts of the country and all experienced riders, which is so necessary for the challenges of the Epsom Derby track. They are being offered a thrill of a lifetime and in return, we hope to raise as much as we can for the two charities, both in the riders’ fundraising and on the day via our lunch and activities.”

Simon Durrant from Epsom Downs Racecourse said: “We are delighted to be hosting this Charity Derby for two such worthy causes on our family fun day and the local trainers open day — something for everyone.”

Continued below…

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Soldier wins Willberry race for young daughter with leukaemia

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‘Once in a lifetime opportunity’: applications open for Champions Willberry charity race

Find out how you can get involved with this race in aid of two great causes

Each selected rider has pledged to raise a minimum of £5,000 and it is hoped the day will make at least £100,000 to be split evenly between the two charities.

For all details of how to get involved in sponsorship of the race and the jockeys riding, how to attend the race and lunch on the day and how to donate, visit: www.championswillberry.org.uk

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

‘Once in a lifetime opportunity’: applications open for Champions Willberry charity race

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 10:14:52 +0000

Applications to ride in the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby are now open.

After the success of the 2017 race held at Cheltenham, which raised over £120,000 for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, this year the race will be run over the same course and distance as the Epsom Derby on Monday 27 August (Bank Holiday Monday).

Eight members of the public, selected from the applicants, will ride alongside four celebrities. It was Hannah Francis’s wish, expressed before she died in August 2016, to have a race in aid of her Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

The 2017 jockeys picture with Hannah Francis’ parents. (Image credit: David Betteridge)

Confirmed celebrity jockeys include Lissa Green and Lara Prior-Palmer, winner of the 2013 Mongol Derby, who has also been suffering with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lissa said: “I am in awe of what Hannah Francis has achieved with Willberry. She was an extraordinary girl. It is so exciting that her charity has teamed up with the Bob Champion Cancer Trust for this exciting event at Epsom and I feel honoured to be a part of it.”

Bob Champion, the Grand National-winning jockey who has also recovered from cancer said: “The Cheltenham race was such a success and we’re absolutely delighted to now be going to Epsom, home of the greatest Flat race in the world.

“With more than 600 people applying to ride in last year’s race and with so much support for both charities, I’m sure we’ll have another amazing line-up. I would quite like a grand prix dressage rider to take their place alongside our celebrity eventers this time – so come on and apply!”

Last year’s winner, Ben Moore. (Image credit: David Betteridge)

“We are delighted to host the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby race at Epsom Downs racecourse,” said racecourse general manager Simon Durrant.

“Run over the Derby course and distance, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these riders to experience the unique contours and undulations of the world-famous Epsom Downs.”

Last year’s line-up included Sir Mark Todd, Tina Cook and Ben Hobday as well as TV presenter, Alice Fox-Pitt. It was won by soldier Ben Moore, himself a cancer victim and particularly special to him and his family as his daughter has leukaemia.

Entries are open via the Champions Willberry website and close on 21 February. Applicants must be under 12 stone, over 18, competent riders, can pledge to raise over £5,000 and are able to source their own racehorses.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Leading trainer fined £8,000 after Epsom winner fails drugs test

Lucy Elder — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:28:25 +0000

An Investec Derby Festival-winning horse has been stripped of his victory after testing positive for a human painkiller.

De Bruyne Horse, trained by Richard Hannon, was disqualified from the Investec Woodcote Stakes at Epsom (2 June 2017) after banned substance O-desmethyltramadol, a metabolite of Class B drug tramadol, was found in his system.

The British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) disciplinary panel disqualified the horse from the race and fined Mr Hannon £8,000 in an enquiry on 30 November.

This is the fourth time in two years a horse trained by Mr Hannon had tested positive for this drug.

In May 2016, Mr Hannon was fined £2,000 following positive tests for tramadol at Ascot on 10 July 2015 and Goodwood on 23 September 2015.

A second enquiry was held on 9 June 2017 relating to a horse named Logout Island in a race at Newbury on 14 May 2016 and Mr Hannon was fined £5,000. In both cases the panel said they could not be satisfied the administration of the substance was accidental.

In the case of De Bruyne Horse, the colt was tested at Epsom and returned a positive result. Mr Hannon asked for the B sample to be analysed, which “produced a similar result”.

On 19 June BHA investigating officer Tim Miller and anti-doping manager Tessa Muir visited Mr Hannon’s yard and took a urine sample from the horse, which tested negative for the substance.

The staff at Mr Hannon’s yard were questioned, but none said they were taking tramadol as either a prescription drug or recreationally.

Mr Miller returned to the yard on 5 July and asked anyone with information to speak to Mr Hannon or himself.

Nobody came forward and Mr Hannon was interviewed “at length” but could not explain how the drug had come to be in the colt’s system.

Mr Miller inspected veterinary records, contacted farriers, vets and other service providers, viewed CCTV of the stables at Epsom and found “nothing adverse”.

He also requested clinical history of all the dogs on the yard, however these were not provided. Mr Hannon chased it up and two were provided and forwarded to the BHA.

Mr Hannon added he had sent a written message to all staff on 8 June 2016 requesting they log any medication that they are on with the office.

He also reminded them that urinating in stables is forbidden; introduced a “personal medication policy” to reduce the risk of cross-contamination plus drug and alcohol testing for new starters and installed hand sanitizers around the yard.

On 5 July 2017, he also asked an independent vet to collect blood samples from 20 random horses and test them for tramadol, which was repeated two weeks later. All samples returned negative tests.

The BHA stated it was unable to find the source of the positive test.

In his defence, Mr Hannon said he had spent a lot of time and money trying to improve the situation.

He said after the May 2016 test on Logout Island he had not known what additional steps to take, but since the most recent test, he had taken outside advice as to how the stable’s practices could be improved.

He added another major change is he has introduced a system of elective testing, where an independent vet tests random samples from 10 horses on a regular basis.

The panel decided it was “satisfied the tramadol was not administered intentionally by Mr Hannon or by any other person for whom he is responsible”.

However, they found despite his recent policies and changes to prevent contamination, these did not come early enough to be applied to the most recent test, and ruled that he did not exercise “all reasonable care”.

Article continues below…

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(Image credit: PA Archive/PA Images)

Wins for Many Clouds and Emma Massingale at New York film awards

‘We’re proud of every film we produce and to have these accolades is really special for everybody’

(Image credit: PA Archive/PA Images)

Michael Owen finishes second in his first charity race

The former top footballer donned silks and breeches to take part in the race at Ascot in aid of the

“We acknowledge that Mr Hannon operates a successful business with a large number of horses and that he operates from two different yards,” said a statement from the BHA panel.

“Nevertheless, this fourth finding is a cause for serious concern in that apart from the documents issued to his staff in July 2016 no serious attempt to improve the system was implemented until after the fourth positive on 2 June 2017.

“For that reason the panel’s view was that, absent of other factors, the appropriate penalty would be at the top end of the range.

“The panel were, however, impressed by Mr Hannon’s candour in relation to the past and in particular his acknowledgement that following the test on 2 June 2017 he realised that he had to take outside advice with a view to improving the position.

“In effect he had a proper risk assessment carried out. As a result he has installed the clock-in system and hand sanitizers and has also introduced the system of elective testing carried out by independent veterinary surgeons.

“The Panel’s view is that Mr Hannon should be given credit for this and as a result the penalty will be a fine of £8,000.”

Card Sharp has been promoted to first place and the panel also ruled any prize money paid out in relation to De Bruyne Horse’s win be returned.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

50-1 outsider produces shock result in Epsom Classic

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 16:35:32 +0000

The 2015 running of the Investec Oaks today (Friday 5 June) was won by Qualify — a 50-1 shot and the least fancied of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s three runners.

This was the Ballydoyle trainer’s fifth victory in the race and made all the more special as he also bred the filly. She was ridden to victory by Colm O’Donoghue, having only his fourth ride in the Epsom Classic.

“She’s always shown us a lot of pace and she’s a well-balanced filly,” said Colm. “The thing was just to get her to switch off and to see if she’d get the trip. She saw it out really strong.”

Connections were less surprised by the result than bookies and punters.

The trainer assessed: “She was always very classy — she won a Group Three very easily at The Curragh last year. We didn’t know about a mile and a half but she’s by Fastnet Rock out of a Galileo mare and when the going gets tough they usually don’t disappoint you. Colm gave her a masterful ride.”

The favourite Legatissimo, another Irish raider sent out by David Wachman and ridden by Ryan Moore, finished a close second. In third was the Luca Cumani-trained Lady Of Dubai, with Adam Kirby in the saddle.

A steward’s enquiry was called to look at multiple incidents of interference down the home straight but this didn’t affect the winner.

The opening day at Epsom provided plenty more surprise results and 16-year-old apprentice jockey Eddy Greatrex grabbed the headlines with his classy ride on David Taylor’s homebred Elbereth to win the Investec Wealth & Investment Stakes earlier in the afternoon. This 16-1 chance was trained by Andrew Balding.

“It was a big opportunity and it just panned out,” said Eddy. “She’s game as anything – we turned in and I saw a gap. She tends to hang left but I’m just glad to get a winner for the boss. It was very hard to ride round Epsom but I think I got the hang of it in the end.”

Don’t miss the full report from Epsom in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 11 June.

Picture by Bill Selwyn

VisitEngland names top 10 racecourses

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 08:00:01 +0000

The top 10 racecourses in the VisitEngland “Quality Assured Racecourse Scheme” have been revealed.

Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Newmarket, Plumpton, Salisbury, Wincanton, Royal Windsor and York racecourses rated highest in England and Wales in 2013 for visitor attraction (listed alphabetically).

Racecourses are assessed over a number of criteria, including the efficiency and friendliness of their customer service and the availability and cleanliness of facilities.

Last year VisitEngland including owners’ and trainers’ facilities in their assessments for the first time, which is reflected in each racecourses overall score.

All 10 racecourses “showed exceptional scores“.

The scheme will continue for 2014 and will see the introduction of accolades including:

* Best food outlet (takeaway style)

* Best café (walk-up only, seated meals, can be buffet/table service)

* Lovely loos

* Visitor information and signage (racecard, internal and external signage, car parks, PA and CCTV)

* Best bar area

“We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with VisitEngland to offer customers a guarantee of quality when they visit British racecourses,” said the Racecourse Association’s (RCA) Caroline Davies.

“This scheme, along with the one run by VisitScotland makes sure that racecourses are able to get constructive feedback which they can use to help them identify their strengths as well as areas that may need improvement.

“The variety in the racecourses that have made the top ten in 2013 is testament to the fact that you don’t need to be a big racecourse to offer a top quality visitor attraction and we believe the changes that we have made to the scheme in 2014 will only go to help racecourses achieve even more in this area”.

See new Investec Oaks trophy being designed and cast [VIDEO]

Amy Mathieson — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:15:43 +0000

Cast in silver and based on the undulating Epsom course, the modern Oaks Trophy will make an eye-catching addition to any racehorse owner or trainer’s mantelpiece.

The new trophy has been created by equestrian artist Charlie Langton. It incorporates a small sculpture of the first winner of the Classic, Bridget — owned by the 12th Earl of Derby in 1779.

And to celebrate the race’s history, all past winners’ names are engraved on it.

“The design is similar to that of the Derby Trophy [which Charlie made in 2010], as I wanted to keep the dynamic shape of the base, which reflects the unique terrain of Epsom,” said Charlie.

The trophy was unveiled on 23 April, 2014 and was made in association with silversmith Asprey and commissioned by title sponsor Investec.

This year the Oaks will be run in memory of Sir Henry Cecil.

For H&H’s Oaks and Derby preview issue — with features and form guide — don’t miss the 29 May issue of H&H magazine

The Queen will be rushing back for the Derby

Horse & Hound — Tue, 27 May 2014 12:30:35 +0000

Loyal fans of The Queen need not fret— Her Majesty will be at the Derby afterall.

In March, H&H revealed a potential diary clash that suggested that The Queen miss the famous Epsom Classic next month but those fears have been set to rest.

The Queen is making a state visit to France the same week to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings, but Epsom confirmed to H&H that she will be rushing back for the race.

“We can confirm that the Her Majesty The Queen will be attending on Investec Derby Day, Saturday 7 June,” a spokesman said.

The Queen is not expected to be at the course in time for the royal car procession, but will be there for the off at 4pm. Relieved sighs all round…

First published in Horse & Hound magazine (22 May 2014)

Brough Scott: Time to walk not talk [H&H VIP]

Brough Scott — Sat, 17 May 2014 08:00:13 +0000

The Derby is coming and it is time to walk not talk.

A fortnight ago, I walked Newmarket’s Rowley Mile before the 2000 Guineas. Next week I shall trek Epsom’s 1½ miles. Everyone should.

For I know of nothing — except hacking a horse around them, for which you are unlikely to get permission — that can so enhance the appreciation of what a 3-year-old colt is being asked to do at this stage of his career.

You may have watched countless replays of Guineas and Derbys on TV, or indeed races live from the stands at Newmarket and Epsom. But I promise you that actually traversing the distance at ground level transforms your understanding of the task in hand.

It begins quite literally from the start. Standing on Guineas day where the stalls were to be parked a few hours later gave me an immediate and prophetic insight to the problems that were to confront both horse and jockey.

The 8 furlongs that stretch ahead are pitilessly straight and enormously wide. With the rails way out on either side, any move towards them could split the field and define the race. It did.

For the Newmarket undulations are far more pronounced than you would ever guess.

The run down to the dip and the final furlong climb to the winning post would be nothing out hunting, but on the 3-year-old at close to 40mph, they put huge stress on balance and momentum.

Add the fact, as happened to Australia last month, that the leader on one side had to both win his own race but match that of main rival Kingman 20m away to his right, and the true drama becomes apparent. What’s more, the final climb then had its say.

Just as Australia matched Kingman, Night Of Thunder lunged past them both, even though the pressure of the hill had him swerving like a snipe in doing so.

The Derby course makes Newmarket look like a polo field. The start takes your breath away. The route rises so sharply that you are out of sight within 2 furlongs.

It forces you over to the right rail in the 1st 1/4 mile, then tacks the pack back across to the left rail, with inevitable bunching and screaming.

If you survive that and reach the top of the hill, you are launched into the long downward helter-skelter that culminates in Tattenham Corner.

Walk down through that and you might presume the Epsom straight would be easy. It isn’t.

If you stick along the inside rail, the track cambers up a whole body height to the outside.

Some camera angles give a bit of an insight, but nothing beats walking down and looking at it. Then you understand. When a jockey gets a Derby horse into top gear, he has to do as much balancing as driving.

Pick your whip up and give him a crack without holding on to his head and he will lunge left down into the horse beside him and the next thing you know, you have both hands on the reins trying to pull him straight. It happens every year. It always will.

All this, of course, is for horses of very little experience. Australia was not actually 3 years old until 11 April and the four races in his life are one more than the big Godolphin hope True Story.

Such deficiencies put special pressure on a jockey’s nerve. This was one of the steeliest of all the assets of the greatest Derby rider of them all, Lester Piggott.

To walk the course for the 1st time, to climb up to the top of the hill and to look down and across the valley to where the Epsom grandstand looms like a great ship in the distance, is still to shake your head in wonder.

You might think that no one would be allowed to create such a track now. You would be right.

Almost 40 years ago, I walked it with a young French jockey who was to have his 1st Derby ride on a fancied — although unsuccessful — raider from Chantilly.

By the time we reached the top of the hill, he looked a bit white and could take it no longer.

“C’est fou,” he said. It’s mad. “Incroyable.” Yes, absolutely “unbelievable”.

This article was first published in the 15 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine

Top supermodel poses for Derby Festival

Martha Terry — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:36:48 +0000

Catwalk star Jodie Kidd is to be the “official face” of the Investec Derby Festival (6-7 June).

The polo-playing supermodel — whose father was a showjumper and brother also plays polo — has been passionate about horses since she was 10 years old.

“I find racing almost hypnotic,” she said. “I look forward to watching these beautiful animals compete in the greatest flat race of them all.”

Jodie modelled 3 different looks inspired by 3 areas of Epsom racecourse: the Hill, the Duchess Stand and the Queen’s Stand, to showcase the variety of fashion at the festival. She is sporting hats designed by milliner Philip Treacy, who is the festival’s official hat designer for the 3rd consecutive year.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Fashion at the Derby is a level playing field,” said Mr Treacy. “Revel in the freedom of being able to play with different colours, styles and trends.

“Anyone can wear millinery and the Derby provides the ultimate platform to do just that. I look forward to seeing a wealth of beautiful headwear on Derby Day.”

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

London racecourses swap furlongs for metres in metric makeover

Horse & Hound — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:42:35 +0000

London racecourses are testing the use of metric weights and distances during the Olympics to make the sport more accessible to younger adults and overseas visitors.

Metre markers are being featured as well as furlong markers at Kempton Park, Epsom Downs and Sandown Park, while the weights of the jockeys are being measured in kilos, alongside traditional stones and pounds.

The idea was developed by Racing For Change, a body created to make Britain’s horseracing industry more attractive to the widest possible audience.

It believes that Imperial measures confuse some younger adults, particularly as the majority of the UK population and the world now uses metric measures.

Rod Street of Racing For Change said: “Racing’s unique language is an asset and part of its heritage and appeal, but we do think that the use of both metric and imperial measures will help us to explain the sport better to our international visitors and younger adults.

“Imperial measures don’t mean a great deal to kids and tourists, so it makes sense to test the use of metric information.”

A spokesman for Racing for Change added: “We’ve had positive and negative feedback. Younger adults see it as long overdue while a few senior citizens are horrified!”

For more information visit www.racingforchange.co.uk.

Epsom-based head girl tells stories from the racing world on Twitter

Flora Watkins — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:51:02 +0000

It’s football rather than racing that’s known as a “funny old game”.

But some of the howlers noted down by Epsom lass Louisa Allen over the years show the Flat is not without comedy value.

Clanger comments by owners and students, wind-ups and practical jokes by lads – all have gone into the book that Louisa, head girl to trainer Jim Boyle, has kept for the past 10 years.

Now, she is giving racing fans a laugh by relating some of the silliest stories, one a day, on the microblogging site Twitter.

“Trainer says to owner ‘that horse will need a rug’. ‘Is that to lie on?’ owner asked.”

“Racing school kid’s first lunchtime was spent queuing up in the post office. Someone had told him he had to get his riding out licence from there.”

“Polish girl was asked to get the quarter marker from lorry that makes pictures on the horse. She returned proudly with her camera.”

“Night before a race, an experienced lass went and asked Jim for some TNT for her horse. Someone told her it was meant to go in its feed.”

Louisa told H&H: “I’ve been working in racing for so long and heard so many funny things that I started writing them down.

“I used to say I’d get my book published one day – but Twitter is the obvious place to put them all.”

“The hard thing is getting them down to [Twitter’s maximum] 140 characters.”

And for those who’ve missed out on the fun, Louisa says she will be posting plenty more.

“I’ll be keeping going for a while as I have enough for a good few weeks yet – and there are a couple of corkers to come!” she added.

Follow Louisa on Twitter: @shellou05.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (24 May 2012)

Farewell to… Epsom-based trainer John Akehurst

Horse & Hound — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:39:58 +0000

The Epsom-based trainer died on 14 March aged 50 at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey. He had been ill for some time.

Mr Akehurst trained many notable winners, including Royal Ascot Wokingham Stakes winner Capricho, and had some success as an amateur jockey before getting a trainer’s licence in 1990.

His funeral will be held tomorrow (30 March) in Leatherhead.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 March 2012)

Epsom racecourse gets “best green business award”

Horse & Hound — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:55:40 +0000

Epsom racecourse has received an award for its efforts to go “green”.

The racecourse was last week (Friday 4 November) presented with the “best green business award”, at the Epsom and Ewell Business Excellence Awards.

The awards recognise businesses that have shown commitment to sustainability and have developed new strategies, which have made an impact on the company and local environment.

“We are delighted to receive this award which recognises the sensitive way the racecourse has been redeveloped and our stewardship of the Downs for the benefit of the whole community,” said Rupert Trevelyan, managing director of Epsom.

Epsom will be ensuring that “green” standards are sustained throughout the year.

For more information visit: www.epsomdowns.co.uk

Celebrate racing at Epsom over the August bank holiday

Horse & Hound — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:54:37 +0000

Epsom Downs racecourse celebrates the sport this August bank holiday weekend (28-29 August) with a “fun festival”.

For the first time the annual family fun day will be combined with the Epsom trainers’ open day to make a weekend of activities.

On Sunday (28 August) trainers in the area will open their yards to the public from 10am-1pm. There will be a free shuttle between the yards. Prior to that, at 9am, racing fans can watch racehorses working on the gallops.

And at the family fun day on Monday (29 August) there will be a parade of ex-racehorses, pony rides, farriery demonstrations, a Shetland pony derby as well as the chance to meet jockeys. There will also be races for children along Epsom racetrack. Children under 18 get in free.

“I am really looking forward to our first festival of fun,” said Epsom Downs’ managing director Rupert Trevelyn. “We look forward to welcoming the local community and hope that families come along to enjoy the racing, entertainment and facilities at Epsom.”

There will also be free racing at the Surrey track on Tuesday 30 August.

For more information visit: www.epsomdowns.co.uk

Dancing Rain wins the Investec Oaks at Epsom

Horse & Hound — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:05:55 +0000

Dancing Rain sprang a surprise in the Investec Oaks at Epsom today, leading from stalls to post to win at 20-1. Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the chestnut Danehill Dancer filly held on gamely to resist Wonder Of Wonders and Kieren Fallon. The pair were four lengths clear of the third, Izzi Top.

Frankie Dettori received a 10-day ban for dropping his hands and losing third place on the fourth horse home, 1000 Guineas heroine Blue Bunting.

It was only Dancing Rain’s fourth run — she broke her maiden at Newbury in April and was second in a Listed race at the same track three weeks ago. Owned by brothers Martin and Lee Taylor, she gave both Johnny Murtagh and trainer William Haggas their first Oaks success.

“This is what it is all about,” said an ecstatic Haggas. “It’s just a matter of getting the right horse and on this occasion, the right jockey.

“Last year she was hopeless but she was steadily getting better and she’s still getting better. Johnny was clever, but she stays and we didn’t make enough use of her last time.

“My wife Maureen has always ridden this filly at home but unfortunately they had an accident going out of the stalls three weeks ago and Maureen broke her leg. The filly rewarded her, anyway.”

Coronation Cup for St Nicholas Abbey

The day’s other Group One contest was a thrilling renewal of the Coronation Cup. Henry Cecil’s brilliant filly Midday just failed to hold off St Nicholas Abbey, one-time favourite for last year’s Derby.

After disappointing in the 2000 Guineas, St Nicholas Abbey didn’t appear on a racecourse until this spring. He showed today that he is a top-class middle-distance horse who will give the 2010 Derby hero Workforce a run for his money in the Arc this autumn, all being well.

When St Nicholas Abbey failed to handle the camber of the track round Tattenham Corner, Midday and Tom Queally struck for home. But, happier over 10 furlongs than this mile and a half, the five-times Group One-winning mare couldn’t hold off the year-younger colt’s driving finish.

Carlton House set for the Derby

The Queen’s Carlton House will start favourite for tomorrow’s Investec Derby after seemingly overcoming some swelling in a leg earlier in the week. Although there has been huge interest from the media in The Queen’s first Derby runner since Church Parade in 1981, it was somewhat overshadowed today by the controversy that surrounds jockey Kieren Fallon’s ride in the race.

Fallon has been declared to ride the Aiden O’Brien-trained Recital, but the owner of Native Khan, another Derby runner, went to court on Friday to try to prevent him riding Recital. Ibrahim Araci claimed that Fallon had a previous contract to ride Native Khan. Araci’s bid failed, but he was given leave to appeal, which has yet to be settled, so Fallon’s participation in the Derby is as yet uncertain.

Kates, Catherines and Wills can enjoy Epsom racing for free

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:11:04 +0000

Anyone with the name Kate, Catherine or Will can enjoy some racing free of charge at the Spring Meeting at Epsom Downs racecourse this April — in honour of the Royal Wedding.

To gain free entry on Wednesday 20 April all Kates, Catherines and Williams must produce a passport or photo driver’s licence on entry.

Racing on the day will include the Investec Derby trial which sets a benchmark for the Investec Derby on Saturday 4 June.

“This is a special day for us as we launch the 2011 racing season and build up to the Investec Derby Festival, as the Royal Wedding is for the nation,” said Rupert Trevelyan, managing director of Epsom Downs racecourse.

“There will be plenty of entertainment for all the family on and off the course and we look forward to welcoming anyone with the Christian names; William, Catherine or Kate for free.”

For more information visit: www.epsomdowns.co.uk

H&H racing editor’s blog: hot stuff at Epsom

Horse & Hound — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:41:40 +0000

Do you know, it’s great being a girl. At least, today it is. It’s boiling hot at Epsom, the press room is steaming away like a pressure cooker, and I’m smugly cool as a cucumber in a sleeveless dress while my male colleagues are awash with sweat in dark suits and ties. Well, a slightly wilted cucumber, but it’s better than being a baked bean.

It’s Ladies’ Day at Epsom — the fillies have their moment of glory in the Oaks, while the two-legged types are parading like peacocks.

The now-ubiquitous Katie Price is here, although I’m not sure if what she’s wearing would be deemed “ladylike”, precisely. Mind you, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen her in a high-necked dress with sleeves, so maybe that’s a bit unfair.

One woman is wearing a giant white horse’s head as a hat, which I suppose is appropriate, but pretty odd. There’s a lot of flesh on show, turning pinker by the minute in the blazing sun.

Derby day tomorrow is due to be even hotter. The idea of cramming a hat on my head is grim, but at least I won’t have to wear full morning dress like the boys. There’ll be some big dry cleaning bills between now and Royal Ascot as they perspire gently into their woollen coats.

Last year we saw the emergence of a true superstar horse when Sea The Stars bolted home in the Derby, racing’s crowning glory. It would be too much to expect another so good so soon, but whoever wins tomorrow’s race will be a hero — at least for a day.

Snow Fairy wins the Oaks at Epsom Downs

Horse & Hound — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:07:48 +0000

Twenty thousand pounds is a lot of money to pay to enter a race. But Snow Fairy proved it absolutely worthwhile when she won the Investec Oaks today, giving jockey Ryan Moore a first Classic in the process.

The dark bay filly, a 9-1 chance, came from well off the pace with a late burst and held off the David Lanigan-trained Meeznah to win by a neck. Third was Remember When, trained by Aidan O’Brien, and fourth was Rumoush.

Snow Fairy, by Inktihab out of a Charnwood Forest mare, is owned and bred by Cristina Patino, and it was she who suggested to trainer Ed Dunlop that the filly be supplemented for the Oaks after she won a Listed race at Goodwood last month. Mrs Patino has most of her horses with Ed Dunlop’s father, John, but she has one each with Ed and his brother Harry, who also trains.

It was Ed Dunlop’s second Oaks victory after Ouija Board’s memorable win in 2004.

“I have lost my voice!” said Ed. “We had doubts about Snow Fairy staying, but we knew she was very tough and that she can quicken, which she showed today. The whole thing is a bit of a fairytale.”

Last year’s Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory took the Investec Coronation Cup under Johnny Murtagh, beating the 2009 Oaks winner Sariska, trained by Horse & Hound columnist Michael Bell, into second.

Stay up to date with all the action from Epsom on Horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss next Thursday’s magazine for a special report, analysis and comment on the Classic meeting

X-Factor’s JLS to entertain Epsom racegoers

Amy Mathieson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:14:33 +0000

X-Factor runners up JLS will be entertaining racegoers at Epsom this summer.

The boy band has been signed up to play live after an evening of racing at Epsom Downs racecourse on Thursday 22 July.

The racecourse concert takes place ahead of JLS’s arena tour at the end of the year.

Since appearing on the X-Factor final in 2008 JLS has been nominated for three Brit Awards and the band’s debut album has sold over 900,000 copies in the UK.

Singer James Morrison and pop group Simply Red will also be playing at Epsom this summer — James Morrison on 8 July and Simply Red on 1 July.

“We are delighted to confirm JLS as the third high-profile band to be playing at Epsom Live this summer. Simply Red, James Morrison and now JLS form a line up that will appeal to both music and racing fans alike and with two further announcements to be made, we are looking forward to staging five very exciting and entertaining fixtures in July,” said Rupert Trevelyan, managing director of Epsom Downs racecourse.

For more information vist: www.epsomderby.co.uk

British-bred Sariska wins the Oaks at Epsom

Horse & Hound — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:14:45 +0000

Horse & Hound columnist Michael Bell trained the winner of the Investec Oaks at Epsom today when Sariska just touched off Midday in a photo-finish.

Sariska, owned and bred by Lady Bamford, is British-bred, by Cheveley Park Stud’s stallion Pivotal out of the Muhtarram mare Maycocks Bay.

Sariska always raced prominently, and swept into the lead under jockey Jamie Spencer coming round the home turn. The Henry Cecil-trained Midday challenged her all the way to the line after an initial attack by High Heeled was foiled, but Sariska held on by the shortest of margins to deny Cecil a 10th Oaks victory.

It was the trainer’s first winner of the race, and completes his Epsom Classic set — he took the Derby in 2005 with Motivator.

“To bag the Oaks is an amazing feeling. It’s a lonely place out in front, especially for a filly so inexperienced, but the post came in time. She fulfilled all my expectations and we’re so thrilled to have her,” said Bell.

Sariska was the 9-4 favourite for the race, having taken one of the most significant trials, the Musidora Stakes at York, last month. She returned after the race with a cut on her hindleg, so plans for the future are on hold until connections are sure she has recovered.

High Heeled was a surprise in third at 33-1 for veteran trainer Barry Hills, 2 1/2 lengths behind Midday. Second favourite Rainbow View, trained by John Gosden, was fourth. Her run was interrupted by Sariska, who moved across her path, but the subsequent stewards’ inquiry left the places unaltered.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained six-year-old Ask came out top in a thrilling three-way finish to the Investec Coronation Cup. He beat perennial runner-up Youmzain by a nose, with last year’s Oaks heroine Look Here also a nose behind in third.

Ask is yet another Group One winner for 14-times champion sire Sadler’s Wells, who, either directly or through his sons, is responsible for nine out of the 12 runners in tomorrow’s Investec Derby. South Easter, trained by William Haggas, will not run because he has been coughing.

The Derby will be shown live on BBC1 tomorrow (6 June) at 3.45pm.

Stay in touch with all the action from Epsom on Horseandhound.co.uk and don’t miss H&H’s special report on the Epsom Classics meeting in next Thursday’s magazine

Horse & Hound at Epsom: racing editor’s blog

Catherine Austen — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:42:17 +0000

There’s just something about a Classic. You can take your Cheltenhams and your Aintrees — in high summer I wouldn’t give you a penny for them.

The sight of a fleet of beautifully-bred, burnished three-year-olds sailing down Epsom’s hill with reputations, careers and millions of pounds riding on them really is something to take home and dream about.

A lot of people in the equestrian world dismiss flat racing as boring. Are they mad?

Let’s not forget that all horse sports hold flat racing at the top of their pedigree tree. If people hadn’t cared whether Thoroughbreds could run faster than one another a couple of hundred years ago, we wouldn’t have Badminton, or the Hickstead Derby, or the Royal International Horse Show.

These horses really are the best of the best, and they look it. Each detail is finely sculpted for maximum physical ability; these fillies running in today’s Oaks are the supermodels of the horse world. Kate Moss, eat your heart out.

And it’s not just the racing crowd who agree — it was a surprise to spot the lean, hawk-billed profile and wide shoulders of Mark Todd inspecting them closely in the paddock. Let’s not forget the great man trained an Oaks winner of his own — Bramble Rose won the New Zealand version in 2003. He’s a man who knows a good horse when he sees one.

Vodafone Derby Day is a sell-out

Horse & Hound — Thu, 31 May 2007 11:26:08 +0000

All tickets and badges for Saturday’s Vodafone Derby Day on Epsom Downs have sold out.

“They do so every year but this year we’ve sold out earlier than ever before,” said a spokesman for the Derby.

There will be no access to the stands and enclosures on the day except for those who have booked in advance — but the hill, in the centre of the course is free to access for all.

“So we never really know how many people really attend,” said the spokesman, adding: “With all 19 horses declared, it should make for a very memorable year.”

Tickets have also been going unusually fast for Vodafone Ladies Day, tomorrow (Friday, 1 June), when two Group One races, the Vodafone Oaks and the Vodafone Coronation Cup, are run.

The Queen’s Stand is sold out, but there are some tickets still available for the Grandstand.

Stay in touch with all the action from the Vodafone Oaks and the Vodafone Derby with HorseandHound.co.uk’s reports from Epsom

Eswarah emulates dam with outstanding Oaks win

Horse & Hound — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 16:39:46 +0000

Oaks joint favourite Eswarah fulfilled every expectation this afternoon with a brilliant victory at Epsom this afternoon, following in her mother’s footsteps. Bred with a Classic victory in mind, the daughter of Midway Lady brought back images of her mother’s win 19 years ago as she stormed to victory in the Vodafone Oaks.

“Her dam was very good, but this filly is exceptional,” gushed trainer Michael Jarvis.

Jockey Richard Hills rode a smart race, keeping the filly well back out of the fray until they turned the corner down the hill to the finish. “I didn’t want her bumped all the way round — I thought it might frighten her. Everything went well from there. I followed them into the straight and it was then a matter of waiting before I pounced. ”

Eswarah was chased down the hill by the tiny filly Something Exciting but couldn’t be caught. Something Exciting’s prospects seemed to be under threat in a line-up of powerful-looking fillies, but she proved her class and staying power to finish well. Trainer David Elsworth was thrilled by her performance, but paid homage to the dazzling Eswarah.

“She ran a wonderful race. For a moment I thought she was going to pass them all, but the other filly [Eswarah] outstayed her. In the end she was beaten by a better filly on the day, a filly that I think I’ll try to avoid!” he said.

Joint favourite Virginia Waters made up good ground in the final furlongs, but faded towards the very end of the race. This was her first attempt at this distance and jockey Kieren Fallon failed to work his usual magic as the 1000 Guineas winner was eventually beaten into third place by the Irish filly Pictavia.

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