[an error occurred while processing this directive] epsom derby 2011 /

Captain Dunne Carries Top Weight to Dash Glory
04/06/11

1 Captain Dunne 13/2
2 Confessional 10/1
3 La Fortunata 16/1
4 Sohraab 25/1
NR: Crimea (IRE)
16 ran Distances: nk, shd, shd
TIME 54.30s (fast by 0.60s)

Jockey David Allan revelled in the thrill of a first Epsom Derby-day victory thanks to Captain Dunne.

Captain Dunne
© Racehorse Photos

The Tim Easterby-trained six-year-old won the meeting’s fastest race, the Investec Entrepreneurial Class “Dash”, having finished runner-up in it two years ago.

Allan, surrounded by the massed ranks of joyous syndicate owners Middleham Park Racing, said: “That’s my first winner at Epsom on Derby day, although I’ve probably only had two rides here in the past seven years. The owners are great to ride for – they are always so noisy and enjoy themselves so much.

“He’s an extremely fast horse – sometimes he tries to go too fast, but on this track his speed is deadly. I wanted to get a lead for longer than I managed, but he had his own ideas and wanted to get on with it. It was pointless waiting.”

Captain Dunne ran in cheekpieces, and Allan said: “At Longchamp last time he got to the front and just dossed for a couple of strides, and that cost him the race when we were caught on the post. He was better today.

“He’s so consistent and always placed on the big occasion.”

Easterby, who also trained runner-up Confessional, was absent at Musselburgh. Confessional was given a quote of 25/1 for the Wokingham Stakes by bookmaker Victor Chandler, who also cut fourth-placed Sohraab to 33/1 for that Royal Ascot handicap.

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Captain Dunne T D Easterby	D Allan 9st 10lbs	13 - 2 Winner
2	Confessional T D Easterby	P Mulrennan 8st 10lbs	10 - 1 Neck
3	La Fortunata M Murphy	Andrea Atzeni 7st 13lbs	16 - 1 Short Head
4	Sohraab H Morrison	Kieran T O'Neill 8st 3lbs	25 - 1 Short Head
5	Fathom Five D Nicholls	Adrian Nicholls 8st 10lbs	9 - 1 Nose
6	Indian Trail D Nicholls	P M Quinn 8st 1lbs	16 - 1 Nose
7	Jamesway R A Fahey	J Quinn 8st 0lbs	25 - 1 Head
8	Masamah K A Ryan	J P Spencer 9st 9lbs	9 - 2 3/4 length
9	Falasteen D Nicholls	William Buick 8st 11lbs	6 - 1 Head
10	Oldjoesaid K A Ryan	S De Sousa 8st 2lbs	16 - 1 3/4 length
11	Bertoliver S C Williams	Luke Morris 8st 2lbs	20 - 1 Short Head
12	Perfect Blossom K A Ryan	Amy Ryan 8st 10lbs	10 - 1 1/2 length
13	Beat The Bell T D Barron	G Gibbons 8st 9lbs	14 - 1 Nose
14	Arctic Feeling R A Fahey	Jack Mitchell 9st 0lbs	12 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
15	Masta Plasta D Nicholls	A Mullen 9st 1lbs	25 - 1 Nose
16	Strike Up The Band D Nicholls	Catherine Gannon 8st 3lbs	16 - 1 7 lengths
NonRunner	Crimea D Nicholls	Non Runner 8st 5lbs	-

MURPHY PRAISES TOUGH AND SPEEDY LA FORTUNATA

Mike Murphy was proud of the efforts of third-placed La Fortunate, a diminutive filly who relished the downhill course at Epsom and was only beaten a neck and a short-head.

The trainer said: "She’s very tough. She got to the front and then she got outbattled a little bit and then drifted a little. But she’s run a cracking race - she loves it here, she loves a quick five (furlongs).

"She’s not the biggest but she loves getting out and bowling along in front. There was perhaps almost a bit too much juice in the ground for her today - she likes it really fast. If there was a four-furlong race no-one would beat her."

Carole Middleton, the mother of the Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied trainer Hughie Morrison to check on fourth-placed Sohraab, whom she part-owns, after the race.

Morrison said: "If we’d been drawn better we’d have won and we’re a bit disappointed. I don’t think we’ll be going to Ascot because he’s only rated 83 and he won’t get in there."