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TOTAL OF 115 REMAIN ON TRAIL FOR 2021 DERBY AT EPSOM DOWNS

3rd March 2021 Epsom Downs

By Graham Clark

The Derby will be run at Epsom Downs for the 242nd time on Saturday 5th June and 115 three-year-olds go forward for the mile and a half Classic following the first scratchings deadline, details of which are revealed today.

 

Entries were initially made in December 2019 when horses were yearlings and this is the first scratchings stage since.

 

Trainer Aidan O’Brien gained a record eighth Derby winner with Serpentine in last year’s race and he accounts for 28 remaining entries in the 2021 renewal. These are headed by current ante-post favourite High Definition, impressive when winning both starts in 2020 including the Group Two Beresford Stakes, and Wembley, runner-up in the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

 

Trainers Richard Hannon, Andrew Balding and Charlie Johnston (assistant to his father Mark) have assessed the chances of their 2021 Derby contenders, below.

 

The Derby is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

 

Charlie Johnston - Gear Up

Won three out of his four starts in 2020, including Group Three Acomb Stakes at York and Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

 

“He hasn’t done anything fast yet as there is no real pressure with him as I can’t see him racing before the Dante. I think his early season campaign is pretty much set in stone with the Dante then the Derby. We are perfectly happy with him at the moment but we’ve not started turning the screw as there is no rush.

 

“It is great to have a Group One winning two year old who is pretty much 100 per cent certain will stay the Derby trip and he has got the class to go with it. It has been a while since we have had a Group One winning juvenile going into the following year with genuine Classic claims. He has form on better ground and you can be watching the weather forecast up to a big race but I wouldn’t mind it downpouring for him as we know he goes well in the soft. He handles whatever conditions you throw at him.

 

“He didn’t come down the dip at Newmarket but he was more a victim of how the race was run as it was a slow run mile and they quickened into the dip and it was that rather than the contours of the track that caught him out. He is a fairly hardy horse and he would not have any issue with the topography of the track at Epsom.”

 

Sea The Shells

Won All-Weather maiden by seven and a half lengths at Wolverhampton on 17th February.

 

“He has a huge way to go as it was only a novice race he won at Wolverhampton. Although he won it impressively we have to keep our feet on the ground.”

 

Richard Hannon – Etonian

Won first two starts, including Group Three Betway Solario Stakes at Sandown Park, but disappointed when 12th in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes

 

“Etonian was wheel-spinning the whole way on the heavy ground in the Dewhurst. I think Julie (Wood) the owner is quite keen on the Sandown Classic Trial for him. He certainly has the action of a horse that would get a trip so that is not going to be a problem but whether he handles the undulations of Epsom I don’t know at this stage. We will head to Sandown then make a plan from there. He has always been a big boy but he does have work to do on the back of his last run, albeit there was a reason behind that disappointment.”

 

Andrew Balding - Star Caliber

A son of 2015 Derby hero Golden Horn, won on debut at Goodwood in September

 

“He is a lovely horse that should stay well. Whether he is an Ascot horse or Epsom horse we are yet to find out. He did it well on his first run at Goodwood and he was staying on well. He should certainly get a mile and a half.”

 

THE DERBY (Group 1) EPSOM DOWNS 05/06/2021

Ace Aussie (IRE) 3 9 0 Zhang Yuesheng Mrs J. Harrington

Alpine Stroll (GB) 3 9 0 The LAM Partnership Ed de Giles

Alto Volante (GB) 3 9 0 Mr A. E. Oppenheimer William Haggas

Annandale (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr W. M. Johnstone Mark Johnston

Anthem (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Jon S. Kelly Mrs J. Harrington

Arthur's Realm (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Paul Turner Ed Dunlop

Arturo Toscanini (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Barenboim (GB) 3 9 0 W. J. and T. C. O. Gredley Michael Bell

Bashosh (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Roger Varian

Beau Nash (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin John Gosden

Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien

Brazil (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien

Cadillac (IRE) 3 9 0 Alpha Racing 2020 Mrs J. Harrington

Carlisle Bay (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Cleveland (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Daramethos (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin John Gosden

Dayshann (FR) 3 9 0 H.H. Aga Khan Jean Claude Rouget

Defined (GB) 3 9 0 Cheveley Park Stud John Gosden

Derab (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte John Gosden

Dhushan (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum William Haggas

Diverge (GB) 3 9 0 Mr George Strawbridge F. Head

Earlswood (GB) 3 9 0 G. Davies J. P. Murtagh

El Drama (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

Erzindjan (IRE) 3 9 0 H.H. Aga Khan D. K. Weld

Etonian (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J. Wood Richard Hannon

Fernando Vichi (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez Donnacha Aidan O'Brien

Flyin' High (GB) 3 9 0 Castle Down Racing Andrew Balding

Francesco Guardi (IRE) 3 9 0 The 4Letterfirstnames & Ballylinch Stud James Ferguson

Gear Up (IRE) 3 9 0 Teme Valley 2 Mark Johnston

Glen Again (IRE) 3 9 0 Teme Valley 2 Mark Johnston

Gloucestershire (USA) 3 9 0 Team Valor & Manton Park Martyn Meade

Grand Scheme (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs J. Wood Richard Hannon

Greatgadian (GER) 3 9 0 King Power Racing Co Ltd Roger Varian

Happy (IRE) 3 9 0 Crone Stud Farms Ltd Mark Johnston

Harvard (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Hector de Maris (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien

High Definition (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Hms Seahorse (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Imperial Sun (GB) 3 9 0 Isa Salman Al Khalifa John Gosden

Inigo Jones (GB) 3 9 0 Cheveley Park Stud Sir Michael Stoute

Jaramillo (GB) 3 9 0 Teme Valley 2 & Partner Roger Varian

Jersey Gift (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr A. Taylor & Partner Jamie Osborne

John Leeper (IRE) 3 9 0 Anamoine Ltd Ed Dunlop

Judgment Call (GB) 3 9 0 Qatar Racing Limited David Simcock

Key To The Kingdom (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien

Khartoum (USA) 3 9 0 Mr Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien

King Creole (GB) 3 9 0 Miss Emily Asprey & Christopher Wright David Menuisier

King of The Castle (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Kingsofthemidlands (FR) 3 9 0 King Power Racing Co Ltd Andrew Balding

Kondo Isami (IRE) 3 9 0 Toshihiro Matsumoto & Partners Mark Johnston

Kyprios (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Latest Generation (GB) 3 9 0 Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum Simon & Ed Crisford

Law of The Sea (GB) 3 9 0 Godolphin John Gosden

Legend of Dubai (GB) 3 9 0 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

Lenny's Spirit (FR) 3 9 0 Mr Paul Turner Ed Dunlop

Liffey River (FR) 3 9 0 Sun Bloodstock SARL Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Lone Eagle (IRE) 3 9 0 Ballylinch Stud Martyn Meade

Lord Marbury (IRE) 3 9 0 Ms Sally Elizabeth Wall Peter Chapple-Hyam

Lough Derg (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien

Lucky Vega (IRE) 3 9 0 Zhang Yuesheng Mrs J. Harrington

Maximal (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte Sir Michael Stoute

McPherson (GB) 3 9 0 Mill House LLC Mrs J. Harrington

Media Stream (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte A. Fabre

Mohaafeth (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum William Haggas

Ontario (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O'Brien

Parachute (GB) 3 9 0 Highclere Racing, T Vestey & P Silver Ed Walker

Percy's Lad (GB) 3 9 0 JD Partnership Eve Johnson Houghton

Pleasant Man (GB) 3 9 0 Brook Farm Bloodstock Roger Charlton

Polling Day (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin John Gosden

Port Philip (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Lloyd J. Williams Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Ratib (GB) 3 9 0 Mrs A. M. O'Brien Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Recovery Run (GB) 3 9 0 Another Bottle Racing 2 Andrew Balding

Rekero (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs A.M.O'Brien/Mark Dobbin/S.Hanson Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Ridgeway Avenue (USA) 3 9 0 Mr Lloyd J Williams James Ferguson

Roman Empire (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Royal Air Force (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Edward J. Ware Simon & Ed Crisford

Royal Champion (IRE) 3 9 0 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

Ruling (GER) 3 9 0 Qatar Racing Limited Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Sandhurst (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien

San Martino (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Sayf Al Dawla (GB) 3 9 0 Ms Sally Elizabeth Wall Peter Chapple-Hyam

Scope (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr J. H. Richmond-Watson Ralph Beckett

Sea The Shells (GB) 3 9 0 Teme Valley 2 Mark Johnston

Seattle Creek (GB) 3 9 0 Mr Luke Comer Luke Comer

Seattle Sound (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Luke Comer Luke Comer

Set Point (IRE) 3 9 0 John Livock & Nat Lacy Hugo Palmer

Shaaher (GB) 3 9 0 Emirates Park PTY Ltd Kevin Ryan

Sir Lamorak (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Sir Lucan (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Sir William Bruce (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Southern Cape (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Donnacha Aidan O'Brien

Southern Lights (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs A. M. O'Brien Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Star Caliber (GB) 3 9 0 King Power Racing Co Ltd Andrew Balding

Stay Well (GB) 3 9 0 Ben & Sir Martyn Arbib Hughie Morrison

Surefire (GB) 3 9 0 Juddmonte Ralph Beckett

Surrey Gold (IRE) 3 9 0 Surrey Racing (SG) Hughie Morrison

Taipan (FR) 3 9 0 Mrs Fiona Carmichael Mrs J. Harrington

Tasman Bay (FR) 3 9 0 Sir Peter Vela Sir Mark Todd

The Guvnor (IRE) 3 9 0 The Rogues Gallery Tom Clover

The Mediterranean (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Third Realm (GB) 3 9 0 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

Title (IRE) 3 9 0 Highclere Tbred Racing-Charles Church Roger Varian

Too Friendly (GB) 3 9 0 W. J. and T. C. O. Gredley George Scott

Trawlerman (IRE) 3 9 0 Godolphin John Gosden

Uncle Bryn (GB) 3 9 0 Chasemore Farm John Gosden

Van Gogh (USA) 3 9 0 Mr Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien

Vengeance (GB) 3 9 0 Mr J. F. Panvert Polly Gundry

Wake Up Harry (GB) 3 9 0 Mr Harry Redknapp Simon Dow

Wallem (GB) 3 9 0 AL RABBAN RACING & PARTNER Andrew Balding

Wembley (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien

Wordsworth (IRE) 3 9 0 Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien

Wuqood (GB) 3 9 0 Mr Hamdan Al Maktoum D. K. Weld

Yarrawonga (IRE) 3 9 0 Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien

Youth Spirit (IRE) 3 9 0 Ahmad Al Shaikh Andrew Balding

Zagato (GB) 3 9 0 Castle Down Racing John Gosden 

 

Every race at every Epsom fixture can be watched live on Racing TV and then free and in full just 20 minutes after the conclusion of each race at thejockeyclub.co.uk/the-racing/race-replays/.

 

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