Epsom Derby Tips – Copybet
Epsom Derby Tips – CopyBet
Appleby's Court not certain to rule again
Charlie Appleby won both Guineas races at Newmarket last month but, rather like Desert Flower in The Oaks, Ruling Court needs to really show this extra half-mile is what he is craving.
He won well at Newmarket, despite the belief the Field Of Gold in second spot may have had his measure if ridden forward sooner.
In any case, that winner has bagged the Irish Guineas emphatically since and if Ruling Court sees the trip out, he will have a leading chance for Godolphin, Appleby and William Buick - a rider oozing confidence.
There is enough doubt, however, about his ability to come home well up the testing straight at Epsom to look elsewhere. He may round Tattenham Corner cruising, but it will be a major challenge from there.
Ryan Moore's Derby tally stands at four, with Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy in the last two years doubling him up following Workforce (2010) and Ruler Of The World (2013).
Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Kieren Fallon are the last three riders to win back-to-back renewals and Moore can trump them now on DELACROIX by completing a hat-trick.
The Dubawi colt was a smart miler last season, winning the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and then getting nosed out of the top prize in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final outing by Hotazhell on soft going.
This season wins in the Ballysax Stakes and the Derby Trial at Leopardstown have shown his progress. He was odds-on for both, but the Ballysax form has worked out spectacularly well and he did that easily.
He had no scares back at the Dublin track last time and looks tailor-made for this step up in trip.
It's not a shock that Moore has stuck with him over The Lion In Winter after that one ran below expectations in York's Dante as Pride Of Arras won on the Knavesmire.
Aidan O’Brien is well versed in having multiple runners in the frame in big races and LAMBOURN is a serious player for the Ballydoyle supremo.
He ran behind Delacroix on their respective comeback in March and has since finished very strongly to win the Chester Vase in May.
The Roodee effort was laced with potential and had the promise of more to come at this trip.
Lambourn’s supporters will also have taken heart from the draw for Derby stalls, as he was handed gate 10, which has produced more Derby winners (11) than any other berth since stalls were introduced in 1967.
His sire Australia won this race and Lambourn is a key string in the Ballydoyle bow.
If we like Delacroix, then it follows that STANHOPE GARDENS should be an outsider of some interest too for Ralph Beckett.
The Kimpton handler also has Dante winner Pride Of Arras in the mix at a shorter price, but this Ghaiyyath colt is preferred at the prices.
The Beverley maiden winner was within a neck of Delacroix in that Autumn Stakes at Newmarket (1m, good to soft) in October and it's worth recalling he also ran third behind Ruling Court on his racecourse bow at Sandown in July.
Stanhope Gardens has, therefore, improved with each visit to the track and he showed his well-being with a straightforward win in a Salisbury Conditions race over a mile on his comeback.
Beckett was understandably keen to get that run into him a fortnight before Epsom and he comes here with an unexposed look and a real chance that he will step up again for this extra distance.
He's an each-way outsider of some merit in a wide open Epsom Derby.
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Enda McElhinney is an experienced sports writer with an in-depth knowledge on horse racing in Britain and Ireland, while he also covers football and snooker extensively.