Tuesday 3rd June, 2025

We have declared Elfride at Newton Abbot tomorrow in the three mile mares handicap hurdle run at 3.35pm.  There are nine runners and hopefully there will be some rain beforehand to ease the ground.  She will wear blinkers for the first time and Harry Atkins takes the ride claiming seven pounds.  Harry has ridden her in the past and she has always gone well for him and hopefully she will be competitive in this event.

Epsom Derby week is always an exciting one and like many, I very much look forward to the Oaks and the Derby.  I can’t see an outsider in the Oaks with such a solid favourite in Guineas winner Desert Flower.  However there appears to be plenty of confidence behind Whirl, with this daughter of Wootton Bassett being the impressive winner of the Musidora.

There has been a fair bit of money for my Derby each-way fancy Lambourn.  Looking at the bigger prices in the race, perhaps Sea Scout – a track winner whose form has been boosted in the French Derby and Nightime Dancer who wasn’t beaten that far in the Lingfield Derby Trial could sneak into places at big prices.