Investec Derby & Oaks Preview 2017
The Oaks:
It seems to be a running theme of the current season that i'm starting a big race off with saying 'AP O'Brien has the market principal' and that is the case again for this year's Oaks with Rhododendron at short odds of around 5/6. She ran on strongly after meeting traffic in the 1000 Guineas only to be denied by stablemate Winter who went on to win the Irish equivalent last weekend and looks sure to give another strong account of herself here. I think her main challenger and one that I fancy myself is Enable for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. She started the season off at Newbury when a good third behind stablemate Shutter Speed before following up with a win at Chester's May Festival beating Alluringly in the process who also goes here, she's trading at a general 11/2 for this which I personally think is a great each way alternative to the strong market leader. John Gosden also runs Coronet here who was beaten over four lengths in the Group 1 Prix Saint Alary by Charlie Appleby's Sobestu who's also in the line up. Sobetsu won well that day and can be found trading at a general 9/1 for this with Coronet at 10/1 respectively. Andrew Balding sends one here who I also fancy as a decent each way alternative to the market leader in Horseplay, she destroyed a field at Nottingham on her last start of last year before reappearing with a win in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket. She's trading at a general 12/1 for this which I think is another really good each way alternative. In form jockey Oisin Murphy looks to take the ride.
Jordan's Selections: Enable (11/2) EW - Horseplay (12/1) EW
The Derby:
Onto the big one itself and the Investec Derby of 2017 so far has a mammoth field of 20 runners which is headed currently by co favourites in Cliffs Of Moher for AP O'Brien and Cracksman for John Gosden both trading at around 4/1. Cliffs Of Moher comes in to this off the back of winning the Dee Stakes at Chester's May Festival when winning in workingman like style with Ryan Moore on board. It looks as though this one will be Ryan Moore's selection to ride here above AP's other runners which include Capri, Douglas Macarthur, The Anvil, Finn McCool, Wings Of Eagles and Chester Vase winner Venice Beach. Cracksman will be partnered by Frankie Dettori and heads John Gosden's runners which include Khalidi, Crowned Eagle, Glencadam Glory, and Pealer. Cracksman carries the Oppenheimer colours which were carried by fellow John Gosden trained horse in Golden Horn who won this back in 2015. Cracksman is my pick out of the two market leaders and I think a very bold showing is on the cards. A horse that he beat last month and this year's Dante winner is just below in the market in Permian for Mark Johnston who can be found trading at a general 9/1 and he's just behind Frankel offspring and Craven Stakes winner Eminent who's a general 13/2. One at a big price as an each way alternative who might be worth chancing on is Dubai Thunder for Saeed Bin Suroor and Godolphin. He won his only start in some style at Newbury a few weeks back when romping home by ten lengths and on the evidence alone he could be something special. Adam Kirby looks to take the ride again here and he's certainly at a backable price at a general 14/1.
Jordan's Selections: Cracksman (4/1) - Dubai Thunder (14/1) E/W
