This year alone, there’s been more drama surrounding the British Royal family than for the entire forty or so years of General Hospital.
Firstly there was THAT wedding between Wills and Kate – accompanied by THAT advertisement. I swear, if I hear the words “velveteen hinged box” one more time I’m going to stick my head in an oven.
Then there was Obama’s visit to Buckingham Palace. The only thing that could have made Queen Liz look more disgusted when he continued to talk through the British National Anthem was if he’d done it while giving her a back rub.
And finally there’s Carlton House, the horse that has been ante-post favorite for the Epsom Derby since he romped home on the Dante Stakes at York last time – one of the more accurate guides for Derby success during trial season.
Of course, being owned by the Queen inevitably meant that it wasn’t going to be all plain sailing in the lead up to the big race, and true to form, last weekend he was found to have filling in one of his ankles, jeopardizing his chances of turning up. After x-rays, Sir Michael Stoute, his trainer, concluded that it was probably the result of a slight knock during exercise, and this morning he came through his final canter with no ill effects – so apparently it’s all systems go for Saturday.
Nevertheless, even if he does turn up I’m not so sure he should be as short as he is for the race. The Dante was run at a muddling pace, and while he did show an impressive turn of foot to win, I have a feeling it was because the race was played to suit his strengths rather than being an indication of his superiority over the rest of the field.
So, with that in mind, let’s look at some of the others:
Seville: Second to Carlton House in the Dante and, to my mind, the likeliest winner of the Derby. A horse that seems to need a strongly run race to be seen at his best, this is something he’ll get at Epsom, and taking into consideration Aidan O’Brien’s fine record at Epsom, I prefer him over the rest in a wide open contest.
Pour Moi: Did win his trial last time very impressively, but if you look at his over-all form he looks decidedly vulnerable. His French trainer, Andre Fabre, has never won the English Derby, and while he reckons this is the best chance he has ever had of lifting the prize, I’m afraid I don’t, and in a nod to the good old Eurovision Song Contest: C’est nil point pour Pour Moi.
Native Kahn. I love this horse. He ran into Frankel last time out in the Guineas (a bit like saying Usain Bolt used to beat you during school sports day), but still ran an honorable third. However, in a helter skelter Epsom Derby I worry about his stamina.
Recital: the chosen ride of Kieren Fallon (should a High Court ruling clear him to do so), and another string to Aidan O’Brien’s bow. He was a bit quirky when he won his trial in Ireland, but still looks the type to do well in this race – I just think that Seville has got a touch more class.
So there you have it, Seville to win, Native Kahn the place. And if it is a Royal winner, listen out for Millie Ball in the Derby recap – if you shut your eyes you’d swear it was Kate Middleton talking…
