Epsom Downs

Epsom Downs will receive more water on Wednesday morning, the racecourse announced on Tuesday. Epsom Downs Clerk of the Course and Head of Racing Andrew Cooper issued a going update on Tuesday evening in advance of the June 4-5 Cazoo Derby Festival. "We've maintained a going report here of Good, Good To Firm in places and we produced a Turftrax GoingStick reading of 7.1, which is actually what it was on Sunday morning," said Cooper in a statement. "It had increased to 7.4 yesterday morning and the watering that we've...

The G1 Cazoo Derby field is currently at 19, with as many as six Aidan O'Brien colts set to compete, including the ante-post favourite dual Group 3 winner Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Beresford S. hero and G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. third High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was the Derby favourite over the winter. French Group 1 winner Van Gogh (American Pharoah), third in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas is possible, although he is also one of 20 left in the G1 Qatar...

Irrigation has started on select portions of the Epsom Downs in advance of the Cazoo Derby Festival on June 4-5. The ground is currently good, good to firm in places, and the forecast is looking less and less likely for rain. "At nine o'clock yesterday morning I'd have called the ground good," said Epsom Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper. "Yesterday was a dry, sunny day here. Temperatures got up to about 20 degrees--and it was a lovely, sunny afternoon. "We dried out a bit more--and as of nine o'clock...

There are 19 colts remaining in the 1 1/2-mile G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 5. Leading the way is current favourite and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of six for Aidan O'Brien and the various Coolmore partners. Joining the G3 Ballysax S. victor from Ballydoyle are: former race favourite High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G2 Beresford S. at two and was third in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. to Godolphin's Hurricane Lane...

Trainer Roger Varian has one colt and a trio of fillies pointing to the G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 5 and 4, respectively. However, Varian, who has only had a single Derby starter previously when second with Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in 2014, is very aware of the unique challenge the Epsom Downs offers to young 3-year-olds. "I think it's a fascinating Derby," said Varian, who recently saddled his 1,000th winner. "It looks an open Derby and a very good Derby. There are a lot...

Derby-winning trainer William Haggas is looking forward to the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 5. The trainer, who won the race 25 years ago with Shaamit (Ire) (Mtoto {GB}), has listed winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to take part in the Blue Riband. "The race means exactly the same as it did 25 years ago in that it's the ultimate race for an English trainer to win or to try to win," Haggas reflected. "We've thrown a few darts at it unsuccessfully and it's a very hard race to win....

The G1 Coronation Cup has a new sponsor and will this year be run as the Coral Coronation Cup on Friday, June 4. Coral joins Cazoo as the official betting partner for Cazoo Oaks Day at Epsom. The Coronation Cup returns to Epsom following its brief relocation last year to Newmarket during a Covid-disrupted start to the turf season in Britain. It will be one of  three races on the card to be sponsored by Coral, along with the listed Surrey S. It represents a first for the company at Epsom...

Several Classic candidates for the upcoming G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 Cazoo Oaks on June 5 and June 4, respectively, took spins around Epsom Downs Racecourse on Monday morning.  Derby colts One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), representing Godolphin and Charlie Appleby and Ed Dunlop's listed winner and 'TDN Rising Star' John Leeper (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) were first-time visitors to the fabled course. The former, who won the G3 Emirates Autumn S. last October next ran second in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. to Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas...

Dual Group 2 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is being aimed at Epsom's June 4 G1 Coronation Cup. Co-trainer William Muir, who trains with Chris Grassick, has indicated his stable star exited his second-place finish in the G2 Jockey Club S. on May 1 in good order. A winner of the G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. in 2020, Pyledriver was also third in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster in September prior to an unplaced run in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. a month...

Cazoo, the UK's leading online car retailer, has been unveiled as the main sponsor of The Derby Festival, which will take place this year at Epsom Downs on June 4 and 5. The multi-year partnership includes exclusive naming rights of eight races during the festival, including the Cazoo Derby and Cazoo Oaks, as well as year-round exposure for Cazoo at all 15 of the Jockey Club's 15 racecourses in the UK. Alex Chesterman OBE, founder and chief executive officer of Cazoo, said, "We're delighted to be sponsoring The Cazoo Derby...

There was an unwelcome twist on Thursday for connections of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King (Fr) (Camelot) as the draw for Saturday's £500,000 G1 241st Investec Derby imposed a widely-perceived "hoodoo" on Bjorn Nielsen's bay. Ante-post favourite for Epsom's Blue Riband, he will have to depart from the dreaded stall one after heading a field of 16 declarations. Qatar Racing's G1 2000 Guineas hero Kameko (Kitten's Joy) has been allocated gate 11, historically a far more favourable position which gives Oisin Murphy options from the break. Aidan...

Ben Curtis has been handed a first G1 Investec Derby ride on Royal Ascot winner Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole, the colt was ridden to victory at Ascot by Rossa Ryan but was due to be partnered by Andrea Atzeni at Epsom. However, with Atzeni claimed to ride David Simcock's Mohican Heights (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Curtis has been called up after a brilliant start to the season. "Andrea didn't foresee that he had to ride for someone else and he's got to ride for...