Countdown to Epsom Derby 2010

It is three weeks since the Newmarket 2000 Guineas was run and now under two weeks before the Epsom Derby 2010 is run. As usual Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team appear to hold a “good hand of cards”. They have the leading four in the antepost market in St. Nicholas Abbey, Cape Blanco, Midas Touch and Jan Vermeer. A decision as to who runs at Epsom will not be made until next week. St. Nicholas ran a fair race in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas when 6th. He was not far behind the specialist milers Dick Turpin, Canford Cliffs and Xtension. Canford Cliffs was mighty impressive in winning the Irish 2000 Guineas yesterday (Sunday) and Dick Turpin has run a good second in the French 2000 Guineas. Jan Vermeer (pictured) was also impressive yesterday and showed that he has trained on. Like St. Nicholas Abbey he is bred by Montjeu and should be better running over the Derby distance of one mile four furlongs. Cape Blanco won the Dante at York and Midas Touch won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Will Johnny Murtagh pick the right one?  He sometimes gets it wrong but it will be interesting to see who Coolmore send to Epsom and who Johnny Murtagh chooses to ride.

Away from Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team, Bullet Train won the the Lingfield Derby Trial and could provide Henry Cecil with another Classic success, while Godolphin look like supplementing Rewilding after his Goodwood win.

At the moment it appears to be a fairly open Derby.  St Nicholas Abbey looks a skinny price at 2/1, but the picture might be a bit clearer in a weeks time!

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