The Trackside Live team are back at Epsom Downs to bring you their views from the parade ring on Derby day.
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Parade ring updates
2 Lake Como - makes appeal early, strong muscular sort, likeable type.
11 York Tower - very fit but living on his nerves a bit and needing a lead in paddock which has helped.
Full result and report
1. CHRISTMAS DAY 7/1
2. Maltese Cross 12/1
3. James J Braddock 9/1
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Winning reaction
To follow
Verdict
James J Braddock best, Maltese Cross second choice.
Parade ring updates
7 Benvenuto Cellini - doesn’t stand out like he did at Chester, angular type, has filled out since juvenile, only fine.
10 James J Braddock - makes plenty of appeal, big, imposing individual, strong and muscular, two handlers but not turned a hair.
12 Pierre Bonnard - big, strong horse, hasn’t developed a lot from two to three but was always impressive as a juvenile. No fitness queries.
3 Ancient Egypt - fit and strong, always been a good looking individual.
5 Balzac - fit and well, holds his own against a lot of these, no issues.
9 Item - very fit again; notably filled out into his frame, was quite lanky at York.
4 A Taste Of Glory - tense and tight through neck and shoulders, needs to settle.
1 Action - probably best sighted appearance this season but doesn’t stand out against stablemates; no issues with cheekpieces.
14 Rebel Rocker - Green and still inexperienced, heavy set, makes little appeal.
11 Maltese Cross - makes plenty of appeal, tall, slender type, has a bit of presence, and maturing - getting more professional.
13 Poker - fit and fine, doesn’t overly stand out.
2 Alderman - lovely physical; slender frame, one for the notebook going forward - likeable type and fit.
6 Bay Of Brilliance - doesn’t stand out physically against these; smaller type, a little busy.
8 Christmas Day - not turning a hair in preliminaries, middle distance physical, hasn’t improved considerably from York but solid and fit enough.
Waiting for rugs to come off.
Full result and report
1. ARKLOW LAD 7/1
2. Vintage Clarets 11/1
3. Lexington Blitz 17/2
4. Stormy Impact 17/2
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Harry Davies: "It was pretty straightforward for me, I had a very good draw. My horse is always sharply away, was able to hold a nice position on the fence and once he hit the two pole in that sort of race, you just go for it and see what happens and just delighted that he's got his head in front, we fancied him coming into today.
"I was more focused on keeping my horse in a rhythm [than watching the other group] and making sure I kept my slot, I had a couple of horses in front of me; the gap was probably just about enough to get him through. I know my horse has got plenty of speed and I was also riding him to hit the line as well, you don't want to overcook it, especially on ground like this. But he loves ground like it is today and it's good to get a winner for The Horse Watchers on Derby day.
"I won on him off a very low weight at Pontefract and I was very impressed with him that day because I was drawn 10 and had to use a lot of petrol and he was impressive to win in the way he did and there probably wasn't another horse in the race that I'd rather ride than this fellow. When he had the lower weight and Chris Dixon asked me to ride him it was a yes for sure.
"I think the horse, since Pontefract, his confidence has been really high. The team at home tell me he's matured mentally an awful lot, there's nothing fazed him here today and he was a pretty push button ride. I think when he's got the slower ground it really unlocks his potential."
Verdict
Kinswoman and Stormy Impact best pair.
Parade ring updates
5 Eclairage - looks well, okay.
4 Cindy Lou Who - a little plain through the coat, okay.
17 Dream Composer - always presents plain, fine for him.
11 Star Chorus - strong and muscular, likeable attitude.
13 Betsen - fit and fine.
3 Lexington Blitz - touch heavy, others appeal more.
2 Another Baar - okay after a break, will tighten but not unfit.
10 Ziggy's Triton - okay, no more than that.
8 King Of Light - needs the run.
9 Rogue Enforcer - muscular, okay.
6 Stormy Impact - looks well again, caught the eye last time and does so again.
20 Almaty Star - looks a touch heavy.
18 Rhythm N Hooves - fit and fine.
14 Arklow Lad - looks plain, especially as paddock pick last time at York.
16 Emperor Spirit - muscular and ready to go.
19 Vintage Clarets - fit and strong; no issues.
1 Democracy Dilemma - a little busy and keen, tight enough muscle wise.
7 Kinswoman - very fit and has quality, catches the eye.
Full result and report
1. BAY CITY ROLLER 17/2
2. Jan Brueghel 9/4
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George Scott: "This is a flagship race, a race we grew up watching and to win it is amazing, it's a bit of an out of body experience. I just pray one day that we turn up at the races and no one would want to get out of their cars because it's so horrible because that is when Bay City Roller comes into his own, he's an incredibly tough horse. He loves racing, loves training and was able to show his quality today.
"David Loughnane slightly put a spanner in the works but we were quick to realise that filly hangs left and she was the best filly in the race and we didn't want to carry on down there; when he [Murphy] came out of the weighing room I said 'we stick to the plan'. Epsom has ridden the stands' side all meeting, you always stick to the stands' side when there's rain, she was a complete one off - we stuck to the plan, he came up the middle and he was much the best horse on the day regardless of where he went.
"He's a hard horse to give a break to because he just tears the whole place down, you can't catch him and he's very, very fresh so we'll probably keep him ticking over in case we get some rain this summer but fundamentally he's got to work back from the Arc, his whole preparation will be a prep run for the Arc and then the Arc de Triomphe itself. If it wasn't summer fast ground you would consider having him ready for the King George in case but he won't run on summer ground in the King George; fundamentally all roads will lead to the autumn."
Verdict
Convergent best.
Parade ring updates
5 Jan Brueghel - shown the most progression from a paddock perspective over the years; used to be very green and gawky. Self assured and athletic these days, plenty to like.
6 Lambourn - having a little whinny from time to time, less imposing than stablemates. Fine.
4 Illinois - stands out of the O’Brien trio but always will do; impressive physical. Always presents heavy.
1 Bay City Roller - looked outstanding at the Curragh, very different weather conditions. Doesn’t stand out in a quality field here; for all he’s fine.
2 Calandagan - doesn’t tend to stand out in a paddock, weak neck; standard for him. No fitness questions.
3 Convergent - impressed at Newbury, has quality about him. Very similar again, fit.
Full result and report
1. SPARKS FLY 7/2
2. Love Dynasty 10/1
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Laura Pearson: "When it came down to it it's just not complicated for her, she always runs her races like that. We had a bit of a think about whether we wanted to pull out to the middle but inevitably we would have rolled back to that rail; I knew she would handle the bends, it was never going to unbalance her so I thought let's keep it easy and stay up that rail.
"This might sound a little bit egotistical but I don't think I've ever got jumpy on this filly because I know what I've got underneath me and I know she's not the type of horse that needs horses around her to put her best foot forwards, if she's happy, she does the best she can. This race last year I was probably not as hard as I needed to be early on meaning that we were shuffled back a lot further and I didn't want to make that mistake again today. She used to run a little bit keen under me, I never used to want to rile her out of the gates, but as she's grown up she's really matured so that's not been a problem so I just wanted to make sure I was out in front. She's probably got plenty left underneath her again after this. She's been incredible at home, Kayleigh who rides her every day has been saying she's been absolutely tanking up that gallop so I was never in doubt.
"Relief. I had the Group 3 with her in France but I really wanted to get the monkey off my back and get it into the UK and I think last year I was questioning whether to hang my boots up would be the next step and I think today has brought that hunger back for me. I broke my neck [at Epsom], my saddle slipped about two furlongs out so I ended up breaking my C7 on my neck; it was a long rehab back from that and I found not physically but mentally was a long way back, I was slower in my brain but now I seem to have switched back on so hopefully my results will follow. I think I've only had 3 rides since I broke my neck at this track and I'm not one to think about the negatives."
Verdict
Princess Child* best overall; good demeanour and fitness.
Shes Perfect negative.
*Withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice.
Parade ring updates
4 Breckenbrough - neat little filly; fit and well.
9 Pacific Mission - very fit but looked the same at York; slender framed type.
7 Princess Child - straightforward demeanour, looks well.
1 Sparks Fly - workmanlike appearance; always the same, not a negative. Fit and well.
5 Love Dynasty - might improve for another run; yards horses can look heavyset but could be a concern.
6 Pina Sonata - needs the run.
8 Shes Perfect - very on toes, two handlers, needs to settle once saddled as expending plenty of energy.
3 Betty Clover - always presents the same, lovely little filly, no change to normal appearance.
Full result and report
1. TEN BOB TONY 11/2
2. Witness Stand 12/1
3. Poet Master 11/1
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Kieran Shoemark: "A few of us did discuss it in the weighing room, we went out and walked the track yesterday, you've got to come over a little bit further today but there's no question about it, it's certainly quicker ground up towards the stands' side. It [the fresh strip of ground on the inside rail] is kind of irrelevant because we didn't use it yesterday so it's still fresh ground, we didn't touch it yesterday so we were always going to come over and there's no doubt it's quicker ground.
"It was really smooth. He jumped nicely from the gates. I was aware that Billy was going to go forward and I wanted to drop in behind him; Billy Garritty ended up getting that position but he wasn't able to lay up and halfway down the back I was able to sneak in front of him. I knew they were going to dart straight over so I just wanted to get a nice, clean run and I was able to get it. He's a horse that's all about rhythm; when you have to stop and check he dislikes that a lot but it was very smooth and that's important to this horse and, ultimately, he stays well and he likes the soft ground so it all worked out well. It felt like a three horse race, it felt like only three of us got into it.
"I galloped Shes Perfect a couple of times before her seasonal return and I suspected she was going to come on for the run. Paddy Bradley was very kind to her I thought and I've since sat on her and she's definitely taken a step forward. The ground is a little bit of an unknown but she's got good gate speed and I think it pays to be on the pace and we'll see how she gets on."
Verdict
Never So Brave best.
Parade ring updates
8 Witness Stand - looks a little heavy; very on toes which is typical paddock behaviour for him, others preferred.
7 Ten Bob Tony - seen looking fitter for all he’s fine; others appeal more.
6 Poet Master - quite keen, small compact type, fair level of fitness but needs to settle.
4 Golden Mind - walks well, big rangy type, fit.
3 Chicago Critic - unusual conformation, very flat-rumped, looks a bit outclassed against some of these.
5 Never So Brave - considerably improved from Sandown fitness-wise, notably better.
2 Balmacara - fairly light framed but a good size; a little tense and tight with red hood.
1 Alcantor - big chested, solid gelding, wearing over reach in front, a little sharp but well handled, rib definition.
More to read on the Betfred Derby
- Timeform big-race preview and analysis
- Graham Cunningham's Epsom File
- Podcast Tips: Who will win the Derby?
- Horse-by-horse guide and Nic Doggett verdict
- Betfred Derby preview Podcast
- Weekend View from Andrew Asquith
- Stamina is key according to Simon Holt
- What do pedigrees say and who will stay best?
- Timeform's Derby greats down the years
- Frankel holds the key to Epsom glory
- Egypt the each-way play according to Alex Hammond
- The "most thrilling 90 minutes in horseracing"?
- Aidan O'Brien's unshakeable faith in Pierre Bonnard
- Final field of 14 and Derby draw details
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