BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 2m 24.15s

(2)

Claymore³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 103

25/1

Useful horse but behind Military Order when last of 6 in a C&D conditions race last month. Up against it at this level of competition.

Form: 4/6752-6

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(5)

Eydon⁶⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: K Stott| T: A M Balding| OR: 109

15/2

Newmarket listed winner who was an excellent fourth in the 2022 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Absent since (has moved from Roger Varian to Andrew Balding in the meantime) but interesting to see what the betting makes of him on his return to action.

Form: 3214/

(3)

Forest Of Dean^p⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 103

40/1

Smart gelding who is contesting this race for the fourth time. Won it in 2021 but has only finished fourth and sixth in the 2 runnings since. Creditable 1¼ lengths third to Blue Trail in listed race at Lingfield (1¼m) when last seen in November but will probably find a few too strong again.

Form: 45/1643-

(4)

Lord North³³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 120

5/4

Very smart gelding who has landed the last 3 renewals of the Group 1 Dubai Turf over 9f at Meydan in March and is also seeking back-to-back wins in this contest. While this provides a different test to the 1¼m he triumphed over at Lingfield 12 months ago he is a potential class act.

Form: 1454/11-

(6)

Tyrrhenian Sea⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 108

9/2

Smart gelding who showed a good turn of foot to come from further back than ideal to win 1¼m listed race at Lingfield on New Year's Eve. Second to Lord North in this at Lingfield 12 months ago but the slightly longer trip this time asks a different question of one who has plenty of speed.

Form: 0/27021-

(1)

Military Order³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: C Appleby| OR: 109| BF

9/4

Smart gelding who won the Lingfield Derby trial (on AW) last year. Gelded and best effort since when narrowly denied in a C&D conditions race on his reappearance a months ago. Should go well again.

Form: 1/1105-2

Forecasts

Lord North (5/4), Military Order (9/4), Tyrrhenian Sea (9/2), Eydon (15/2), Claymore (25/1), Forest Of Dean (40/1)

A new home and trip for the Winter Derby but it might be the same outcome as last year with 4-time Group 1 winner LORD NORTH selected to make his class tell again. Military Order gained valuable experience over C&D when narrowly denied in a conditions race last month and can give the selection most to do.