A substantial overnight downpour between Monday and Tuesday has seen the going change at Epsom. More rain is expected before the revitalised Derby meeting gets underway.
Here is today’s racing news round-up for Tuesday.
Rain forces Epsom going change with more incoming
A going change has occurred at Epsom on the week of their Classic meeting. Heavy rain on Tuesday morning has seen the ground change to good, good-to-firm in places. However, the Clerk of the Course also suggested areas of the track were already majority good-to-soft. More rain is expected this week after the 20mm downpour on Tuesday. It could have repercussions for those contesting the Oaks on Friday and Derby on Saturday.
Epsom Derby: 17 confirmed for revamped Classic
17 confirmations were made for Saturday’s Epsom Derby. Aidan O’Brien is responsible for seven of those, including ante-post favourite Benvenuto Cellini. Pierre Bonnard and Christmas Day are also among his confirmations, though French Derby winner Constitution River was unsurprisingly removed at the five-day stage. Also among the confirmations are trial winners Item and Maltese Cross, as well as the Amo Racing-owned Ancient Egypt. (Sporting Life)
The big race on Saturday will be part of the revamped Epsom racing festival. The Derby itself now contains a prize pot worth £2 million, including half of that to the winner. Similarly under-18s will be able to attend for free, with parking on the hill now also free for customers intended to watch from the downs themselves. The Group 1 Coronation Cup joins the Derby on the Saturday card to provide the best selection of races too. (The Guardian)
Thundering On on Oaks trail for Joseph O’Brien
In an attempt to take down Aidan O’Brien’s runners, son Joseph has promising recent winner Thundering On in line for Epsom. She won the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan in impressive fashion last time out. That was her first win in four starts, but the daughter of Frankel should be poised to go well at Epsom. She is generally the fourth favourite for the Oaks on Friday. (Racing Post)
James Ferguson to end training career in July
Group 1-winning trainer James Ferguson is to quit training at the end of July. Ferguson enjoyed his biggest success when El Bodegon won the Grand Criterium de Saint-Cloud in 2021. However, he received an irrefutable offer to join the bloodstock industry and will therefore cease his training operations this summer. Whether a replacement will take over Ferguson’s Newmarket base is as yet unknown. (Racing TV)