Rip Van Winkle could steal the show at Epsom Derby (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Rip Van Winkle could steal the show at Epsom Derby

12:08pm Thursday 4th June 2009

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The highlight of this weekend’s sporting calendar is the Investec sponsored Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday.

Racing fans who can’t make it to the course will be catered for by live coverage from the meeting by BBC 1 cameras who will be on hand to televise the first four races, including the Premier Classic due to get underway at 3.45.

The course has appointed Hayley Turner as the face of the 2009 Derby Festival, following in the footsteps of Catherine Dettori in 2008, Clair Dwyer 2007 and Francesca Cumani 2006.

As 2008 drew to close, Turner and the racing industry celebrated her significant achievement of becoming the first woman to ride 100 winners in a calendar year in Britain and was voted Channel 4 Racing Personality of the Year by Viewers.

Around a dozen colts will go to post for the running of the 230th Premier Classic, worth a staggering £1.25 million in prize money. Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien will be seeking a third success in the prestigious event, following the victories of Galileo in 2001 and High Chaparral a year later.

O’Brien will be represented by six runners headed by the ante post favourite Fame and Glory and the 2,000 Guineas fourth Rip Van Winkle, together with Lingfield Trial victor Age Of Aquarius, Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island and the first two home in the Chester Cup Golden Sword and Masterofthehorse.

Punters waiting anxiously to see who stable jockey Johnny Murtagh decided to ride in the race were put out of their misery when the stable’s number one pilot plumped for Rip Van Winkle.

Local trainer Brian Meehan has still to decide whether or not his Racing Post Trophy winner and Winter ante post favourite for the race, Crowded House, takes his chance in the race or runs in the Prix du Jockey Club in France a day later.

The trainer said: “He has been working well but we want to monitor the situation for a couple of days to make sure we do what is best for the horse.”

The Manton colt is one of just five in the race trained in Britain, the others including the Mick Channon trained Montaff, who finished second in the Lingfield Trial to Age Of Aquarius and according to jockey Richard Hills could be the dark horse in the field.

William Haggas saddles South Easter, who won the Dee Stakes at Chester, Godolphin are represented by Kite Wood and former Manton trainer John Gosden saddles Debussy.

Sea The Stars, winner of the 2,000 Guineas for Irish trainer John Oxx will have his followers, but there is a shade of doubt whether or not he will stay the mile and a half.

With that in mind the column’s selection is for the Ballydoyle trained Rip Van Winkle, who finished fourth in the Guineas, and who could well have come on for the run.

The two day Epsom Derby Festival kicks off on Friday where the feature race on the card is the Investec Oaks for Fillies run over a mile and a half.

Ante post favourite for Group 1 event is the Michael Bell trained Sariska, the mount of Jamie Spencer.

Former Manton trainer John Gosden runs long time favourite for the race Rainbow View, who back to her best would be hard to beat. However the column’s selection is for Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Midday, to give her trainer Henry Cecil his ninth success in the race.

Nearer home, racing fans could make the short trip down the M4 to Bath on Friday evening where the Lansdown course stages a six race card.

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