Small field is likely for Epsom Classic

13 April 2012

The smallest field for at least 12 years is expected to line up for this Saturday's £1 million Vodafone Derby.

Only 14 colts were set to be confirmed for the Epsom classic at today's forfeit stage, but that total is likely to dwindle to just a dozen at most come the day itself.

Statisticians could read this as good news for joint favourite and 2,000 Guineas hero, Golan, because Nashwan - the last horse to complete the classic double at Newmarket and Epsom - beat 11 rivals to take the 1989 Derby.

Irish handler Aidan O'Brien has reduced his quota of seven entries to just two - joint favourite Galileo and stablemate Ice Dancer - but expects to run only the former this Saturday. He confirmed Galileo in good order and plans to arrive with the colt on the morning of the race. Ice Dancer is more likely to contest the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on 22 June.

Godolphin have also left two in - 2,000 Guineas flop Tobougg and Predominate runner-up Wareed - with a view to Sheikh Mohammed deciding between them for Thursday's 48-hour declaration stage. Only one of the two is expected to run, in the hands of Frankie Dettori. Tobougg has the proven top-class juvenile form but, unlike his stable companion, is not a guaranteed stayer.

Newmarket handler Nick Littmoden will run Lingfield Derby disappointment Sunny Glenn at Epsom. The colt worked well under jockey Jason Weaver last Wednesday but has his stamina to prove. Gay Kelleway has withdrawn maiden Te Quiero after the latest in a catalogue of injuries forced him to miss his prep two days ago.

West Ilsley handler Mick Channon was today leaving until the last minute a decision on whether to allow King Carew to make his seasonal debut in the Derby. If that colt should miss the race, the field could cut up to just 11 runners - the smallest field for 31 years when Nijinsky beat ten rivals in Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper meanwhile faces a pressing dilemma in his watering policy.

A confused forecast for later this week impacts directly on plans to water the track over the next 24 hours. If Epsom officials jump the wrong way, they run the risk of ground faster than ideal this Saturday.

"We have been watering at Epsom for the past two weeks and the ground is officially good-to-firm, although it's better than that in some places. We are watering the level section at the top of the hill today, but whether we water the straight and the bottom of the hill tomorrow depends on the forecast," said Cooper.

"It looks likely we'll stay dry until Wednesday evening but then the forecasters differ markedly on what happens next - some say Thursday night will be quite wet, others that there'll be no appreciable rain.

"If there is more confidence in rain arriving, we could sit tight and not water. But if it then didn't materialise, it could end up quite quick on Saturday."

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Small field is likely for Epsom Classic

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