mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon ridden and unable to quicken, ran on well final furlong, nearest finish
chased leading pair until ridden and weakened 3f out
in touch, ridden well over 1f out to inside final furlong, faded
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 3f out , soon weakened
towards rear, struggling final 3f
slight lead, narrowly headed 5f out, stayed chasing leader to well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division to rear, driven along from 2f out, not pace to challenge
dwelt, pushed up on inside and soon mid-division, headway and switched outside 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, sustained run to lead final 100yds, comfortably
dwelt, recovered and soon in mid-division, hampered on inside bend and dropped to rear 8f out, stayed on again final 2f, never able to challenge
mid-division weakened quickly over 2f out
mid-division when hampered and dropped to rear after 3f, switched to outside and stayed on final 2f, never dangerous
well in rear, came wide straight, headway on outside over 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
close up, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
towards rear, hard ridden 3f out, soon no impression
towards rear, soon pushed along and struggling
started slowly, in rear, some late moderate headway, never dangerous
with leader, led 5f out, driven two lengths clear approaching final furlong, kept on well under pressure, headed and not quicken final 100yds
mid-division, lost place 5f out, soon behind
Refuse To Bend can give the Irish their fourth-successive win in the Vodafone Derby; Brian Boru and Kris Kin proving best of the rest. All three of the previous winners won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial en route to Epsom so that's a good pointer to Alamshar's chances. He held other Epsom hopefuls The Great Gatsby and Brian Boru, by a head and two-and-a-half lengths that day, although the latter was conceding five pounds to the field. The Great Gatsby and Brian Boru are both by Sadler's Wells, who is responsible for the last two Derby winners, Galileo and High Chaparral. They will both be very well suited by 12 furlongs and can be expected to improve at that trip. Things are less clear cut with Alamshar, although he has a very good chance of staying. He is by Key Of Luck, who has so far produced only three crops of racing age. He was a Group 3 winner who stayed 10 furlongs. However, his dam, Alaiyda, is by the Derby winner Shahrastani out the disqualified Oaks winner Aliysa. Aidan O'Brien also runs Alberto Giacometti. He finished behind Balestrini and Alamshar when he returned to action this season, but has since finished third to Dalakhani in the Prix Lupin, in which Balestrini finished fourth. The winner has since franked the form by running away with the French Derby. He is likely to improve with racing and for a step up to 12 furlongs. The well-bred Balestrini should stay the trip although he is some way down the Ballydoyle pecking order it would seem. This brings us to the fourth main Irish challenger, the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend. He too is a son of Sadler's Wells and, given his middle-distance pedigree, he did extremely well to land the first colts' Classic. The Dermot Weld-trained colt is out of a Gulch mare called Market Slide, which makes him a half-brother to the Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle. As such, he has every chance of staying 12 furlongs. The British-based Derby hopefuls will all need to improve on what they have so far achieved. These include the three supplementary entries. Firstly is Clive Brittain's Dutch Gold. He won a sub-standard Chester Vase in May in good style and proved that he stayed the Derby trip. Physically, he has plenty of scope but needs to improve again to feature in Saturday's race. Secondly is Sir Michael Stoute's Kris Kin. He took the Dee Stakes at Chester's May meeting. He ought to stay 12 furlongs and, given his rate of progress each time he has run, he certainly holds chances at Epsom. Thirdly is David Elsworth's Norse Dancer. He finished well when third in the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas, his best effort to date. He is not a certain stayer but connections clearly feel that he will. Magistretti's Dante Stakes win suggested that he would stay further, while Dunhill Star, third that day at York, is certain to improve for the trip. Franklins Gardens has already proven that the trip, going and Epsom hold no fears for him but, overall, improvement is required. Shield is likeable and will relish 12 furlongs but the form of his Sandown Classic Trial win has already received knocks, while the bare form of the American-bred Unigold's Predominate Stakes second leaves him with something to find too, although he should stay the Derby trip. Godolphin's Graikos, who finished fifth in the Dante, will also appreciate a step up to 12 furlongs. Overall, then, there are plenty in the race who will stay the full Derby trip. Hopefully the rain forecast for later in the week will ensure good going, at least, for the big race. If so, then Refuse To Bend can set himself up for a crack at the Triple Crown by landing the Vodafone Derby.
