Having finished fifth in last year’s Epsom Derby, Hector Crouch is hoping he can go four places better as he rides Ralph Beckett’s Bay Of Brilliance. The New Bay colt was two from three as a two-year-old, culminating with an eight-length rout at Redcar.
It was a tough ask to pitch him into a Derby trial on seasonal debut. But he only went down by a neck by Maltese Cross. Bay Of Brilliance handled the undulations of Lingfield well there, just touched off late on. Given the winner had the benefit of a run, it’s easy to envisage a reverse in that form at Epsom.
Speaking to the Racing Post about his chance, Hector Crouch said: “I thought Lingfield was a very good run. He had a good blow afterwards and I think he’ll take a big step forward. He rallied near the line and perhaps with a run under his belt he may have been closer again. Or it might have been a different result. He’s very straightforward and handled the idiosyncrasies of Lingfield well. Hopefully he can transfer that over to Epsom.
“He’s only got 1lb to find to reverse the form with Maltese Cross; And he’s not too far off the ones at the top of the market. Bay Of Brilliance is bred for the Derby trip and he’s very well-balanced. So I don’t see Epsom causing him any issues.
“Obviously everyone wants to win the Derby but he’s certainly going to be making the frame I think. We’ll find out on the day if he’s good enough to really serve it up to them.”
Three darts thrown by Ralph Beckett in the Oaks to repeat 2013 triumph
Ralph Beckett is a dab-hand with the fillies, and first won the Oaks in 2008 with Look Here. Five years later, he saddled the forecast as Talent trumped Secret Gesture. A La Prochaine, K Sara and On Message are the nominees, and Hector Crouch saddles the latter. Third in the Height Of Fashion Stakes last time out, Crouch said: “ I thought that was a very promising run. It was a big step-up in grade. She went into it rated 85 and she’d have been much better with an even gallop. They went very slow and then sprinted, but she finished off with a real rattle.
“I thought she was probably capable of winning that race at Goodwood. And she’s shown a liking for Epsom already having won a handicap around there. It’s a big step up in grade but the Oaks distance shouldn’t hold any fears for her. It would be lovely to pick up some more black type at the very least.”