Derby Festival News |
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| Friday 6th & Saturday 7th June 2014 | |
Value Bets to Take On Australia in Derby
04/06/14
Australia is set to go off on Saturday as a short priced favourite with Betfair for the 2014 Derby at Epsom. Aidan O’Brien’s colt has been well backed for the most prestigious race on the British flat calendar ever since he finished third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month.
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Despite the horse being bred for this distance of 12 furlongs, ground conditions at Epsom may not be ideal for the Irish runner therefore there could be some each-way value against the favourite.
Stablemate Geoffrey Chaucer has also attracted support in the betting recently at Betfair but is still at a backable each-way price. He was disappointing in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this season where he finished third behind Ebanoran and Fascinating Rock. However, reports suggest he has been working very well at home and connections are hopeful of a big run from the three-year old.
Geoffrey Chaucer is already a group winner as he scored in the Juddmonte Bereford Stakes last year. With Joseph O’Brien set to ride Australia, Ryan Moore will board the horse where he will be looking for his third Derby win.
Kingston Hill is a horse that should not be forgotten going into the Derby and has every chance of hitting the frame. If the ground is testing, his chances will definitely increase, however, trainer Roger Varian still believes his horse is equally as effective on good going.
As a two-year old, Kingston Hill won all three of his starts, including the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster after going off as the Betfair favourite. His opening run of his three-year old campaign was in the 2000 Guineas where he was eighth of the 14 runners over the 1m trip.
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2000 Guineas winning jockey Kieren Fallon will board True Story in the Derby, a race he has won on three occasions. His experience of Epsom can only be a positive for the horse.
John Gosden’s unbeaten colt Western Hymn is many experts’ idea of a value each-way selection in the race to take on Australia. This horse was a late developing two-year old and did not make his racecourse debut until December. Since then he has appeared twice this year and scored on both occasions. This is going to be a huge step up in class for the son of High Chaparral, however, he is still unexposed and may be open for improvement.
Finally, another Gosden-trained horse to take his chance in the race is Romsdal. He has been supplemented at a cost of £75,000. Connections will be hoping for a return on that investment by finishing in the first three home at Epsom on Saturday.
