Epsom Racecourse News - 139 chasing Investec Derby glory in 2020 - BOOK TICKETS AND HOSPITALITY PACKAGES

Published 2020/03/05

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CLICK THE IMAGE TO BOOK TICKETS AND HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AT THE EPSOM DERBY

The 241st running of the premier Classic takes place on the second day of the Investec Derby Festival and carries a total prize fund of at least £1.5 million, making it the most valuable race run in Britain.

Those remaining in the race were all entered as yearlings in December 2018.

There is a £9,000 second entry stage on Tuesday, 7 April and an £85,000 supplementary entry stage on Monday, 1 June.

Aidan O'Brien registered a record-equalling seventh Investec Derby victory in 2019, courtesy of Anthony Van Dyck, and Ireland's multiple champion trainer has 47 entries going forward as he chases an unprecedented eighth success in the 12-furlong showpiece.

O'Brien's formidable team includes Innisfree, Year Of The Tiger and Mogul, who filled the places in that order behind Kameko (Andrew Balding) in the rearranged G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Newcastle in November.

The G1 National Stakes runner-up Armory and G2 Royal Lodge Stakes victor Royal Dornoch are also engaged for the Ballydoyle trainer.

The total number of entries trained by the O'Brien family stands at 55, with four entries each for Aidan O'Brien's sons Joseph, who rode Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014) to Investec Derby success, and Donnacha, who landed the 2018 Investec Oaks on Forever Together and commenced his training career at the end of 2019.

Godolphin's Pinatubo (Charlie Appleby) is the 7/1 favourite with Unibet, official betting partner of the Investec Derby Festival, although he does not currently hold an entry.

The Shamardal colt carried all before him in six starts last season, with his winning streak headlined by a memorable nine-length victory in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh in September - a performance that earned him the highest two-year-old rating for 25 years.

Britain's champion trainer John Gosden, successful with Benny The Dip (1997) and Golden Horn (2015), has the hugely exciting Waldkonig among his 16 contenders.

A half-brother to last year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist, the Kingman colt could not have been more impressive on debut at Wolverhampton in December.

Gosden's team also features Newmarket maiden winner Tuscan Gaze and Darain, who is an unraced full brother to multiple G1 scorer Too Darn Hot.

Sir Michael Stoute enjoyed the most recent of his five Investec Derby triumphs in 2010 with Workforce.

The Newmarket handler's four entries are led by unbeaten pair Highest Ground and Satono Japan, who made eye-catching debuts at Leicester and Kempton Park respectively at the backend of last season.

Hughie Morrison has two promising colts in Starcat and Kipps.

The former won a well-contested novice race first time out at Kempton Park on 11 December, while the latter was off the mark at the second attempt in a similar contest over 10 furlongs at Lingfield Park on 28 December.

Morrison said: "Starcat and Kipps are two nice horses. "Starcat won nicely on his debut at Kempton. I am not sure he is a horse who will stay a mile and a half, but hopefully he has a nice future ahead of him. "Kipps is a lovely horse and I was pleased with his victory last time out. He could potentially head for the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom in April as a starting point. He looks exciting as he should enjoy that trip. "Both horses are working well and hopefully they can have a good campaign."

The three fillies going forward include Do You Love Me (Karl Burke), who is an unraced full sister to 2018 Investec Oaks heroine Forever Together and cost €3.2 million at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2018.

Investec Derby - Unibet prices (italics not currently entered): 7/1 Pinatubo 12/1 Mogul, Kameko 14/1 Waldkonig 16/1 Military March 20/1 Innisfree, Palace Pier 25/1 Armory, Year Of The Tiger 33/1 Al Suhail, Brentford Hope, Convict, Enemy, Highest Ground, Iberia, Lope Y Fernandez, Max Vega, Persia, Royal Dornoch, Tuscan Gaze 40/1 Cape Palace, Choctaw Ridge, Darain, Gauntlet, Khaloosy, Mythical, Silver Fox, Starcat, Thunderous 50/1 Amhran Na Bhfiann, Arrow of Gold, Byzantine Empire, Cabot Hills, Caldwell, Celtic High King, Chachnak, Ciel d'Afrique, Copper Point, Do You Love Me, Greek Gladiator, Harakann, Keats, Khabaab, Kipling, Monarch Of Egypt, Napa Valley, Nobel Prize, Numen, Order Of Australia, Palm Beach, Ramesses The Great, Royal Lytham, Santiago, Satono Japan, Star Of Juniper, Taqareer, Vatican City 66/1 Al Aasy, Almighwar, Arthurs Kingdom, Blow Your Horn, Colonize, Coventry, Cozone, Dawn Rising, Daylight Come, Dune of Pilat, Emperor Of The Sun, English King, First Receiver, Fiscal Rules, Grand Bazaar, Grand Rock, Hukum, King Fairy, Law Of One, Lost Eden, My Oberon, Nasraawy, Noonday Gun, Robert Walpole, Russian Emperor, San Pedro, Sherpa, Sky Commander, Thames River, The Boatman, Tiger Moth, To Nathaniel, Toronto, Ursa Minor, Yankee Stadium 80/1 Desert Emperor, Mark of Gold 100/1 Al Zaraqaan, Berkshire Rocco, Bodyline, Cormorant, Count of Amazonia, Dawn Patrol, Delphi, Dream With Me, Father of Jazz, Flying Scotsman, HMS President, Hootton, Jacksonian, Khalifa Sat, Kipps, Luncies, Maori Knight, Matthew Flinders, Memorabilis, Monument Valley, Mr G, Mr Tambourine Man, Papa Power, Postileo, Retrospect, Serpentine, Shoshone Warrior, Solar Screen, Sunchart, Tammani, Taramansour, Thank You Power The Seventh Day, Thumur, Tyson Fury, Valyrian Steel, Victory Road, Vintage Rascal, War Cross 125/1 Emaraty Hero 150/1 Nova Roma, Paradiso, Port Lockroy, Sheer Bravado, Stepney Causeway, Verdon Gorge 200/1 Incendiere, Louve, Moomba, Nevendon, Pharoah King 250/1 Eaglesglen THE INVESTEC DERBY G1, £1,500,000 total prize fund. For three-year-old colts and fillies. 1m 4f 6y, Epsom Downs, Saturday, 6 June. Weights: colts 9st, fillies 8st 11lb. Horses will only be eligible to run in this race provided that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday of the confirmation stage.

Horses who do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or higher.

Horses who have not run will not be eligible. Entries closed 4 December, 2018 (356 entries), first scratchings deadline 3 March (139 remain), £9,000 second entries close 7 April, second scratchings deadline 19 May, five-day confirmations & £85,000 supplementary stage 1 June.

Final declarations 4 June.

Horse                                               Owner                                            Trainer

Al Aasy (IRE)                   Hamdan Al Maktoum                                 William Haggas

Al Zaraqaan                   Hamdan Al Maktoum                                 William Haggas Almighwar                     Hamdan Al Maktoum                                 John Gosden

Amhran Na Bhfiann (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

Armory (IRE)                      Derrick Smith                                                   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Arrow of Gold (IRE)    Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum         Kevin Ryan

Arthur's Kingdom (IRE) Sue Magnier                                                       Aidan O'Brien IRE

Berkshire Rocco (FR)                  Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd               Andrew Balding

Blow Your Horn (IRE)                Anthony Oppenheimer                        Charlie Fellowes

Bodyline (IRE)                         Tim Bunting - Osborne House IV            Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Byzantine Empire                     Rachel Hood                                           John Gosden

Cabot Hills (IRE)           Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor   Donnacha O'Brien IRE

Caldwell                                       Khalid Abdullah                               Dermot Weld IRE

Cape Palace                    Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum   John Gosden

Celtic High King (IRE)              Michael Tabor                                          Aidan O'Brien IRE

Chachnak (FR)                 Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl                Fabrice Vermeulen FR        

Choctaw Ridge (IRE)          Derrick Smith                                        Aidan O'Brien IRE

Ciel d'Afrique (IRE)                Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd                     Dermot Weld IRE

Colonize                               Prince A A Faisal                                       John Gosden

Convict                                    Brian Haggas                                       William Haggas

Copper Point (IRE)                Godolphin                                            John Gosden

Cormorant (IRE)                     Sue Magnier                                          Aidan O'Brien IRE

Count of Amazonia (IRE)     Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum   Richard Hannon

Coventry (IRE)                    Tabor/Smith/Sue Magnier/Flaxman Stables  Aidan O'Brien IRE

Cozone                              John Connolly & Odile Griffith                      Amanda Perrett 

Darain                           Qatar Racing Ltd and Watership Down Stud    John Gosden

Dawn Patrol (IRE)                Sue Magnier                                                   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Dawn Rising (IRE)                   Derrick Smith                                              Aidan O'Brien IRE

Daylight Come (IRE)                  Jackie Bolger                                           Jim Bolger IRE

Delphi (IRE)                            Derrick Smith                                               Aidan O'Brien IRE

Desert Emperor                 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum            Roger Varian

Do You Love Me (IRE)           Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited                      Karl Burke

Dream With Me (IRE)           Saeed Suhail                                                    Mark Johnston

Dune of Pilat (FR)                 Sun Bloodstock SARL                                   Joseph O'Brien IRE

Eaglesglen                            Tony Elliott                                                        Tom Clover

Emaraty Hero                      Ahmad Al Shaikh                                              Karl Burke

Emperor of The Sun (IRE)Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor  Donnacha O'Brien IRE

Enemy                               Qatar Racing Ltd & Lady O'Reilly                    John Gosden

English King (FR)                 Bjorn Nielsen                                                Ed Walker

Father of Jazz                    Bill & Tim Gredley                                             Michael Bell

First Receiver                         The Queen                                              Sir Michael Stoute

Fiscal Rules (IRE)                  Jackie Bolger                                             Jim Bolger IRE

Flying Scotsman (IRE)             J P McManus                                           Aidan O'Brien IRE

Gauntlet (IRE)                        Sue Magnier                                             Aidan O'Brien IRE

Grand Bazaar              Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum John Gosden

Greek Gladiator (IRE)  Michael Tabor                                                      Aidan O'Brien IRE

Harakann (IRE)                 HH Aga Khan                                                  Michael Halford IRE

Highest Ground (IRE)           Niarchos Family                                         Sir Michael Stoute

HMS President (IRE)                 HP Racing HMS President               Eve Johnson Houghton

Hootton (FR)                               Ecurie Normandy Spirit                  Fabrice Vermeulen FR

Hukum (IRE)                                Hamdan Al Maktoum               Owen Burrows

Iberia (IRE)               Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Incendiere (IRE)              Ecuries Serge Stempniak                         Fabrice Vermeulen FR

Innisfree (IRE  Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Annemarie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE

Jacksonian                  Khalid Abdullah                                                      Ralph Beckett

Kameko (USA)                                Qatar Racing Limited                         Andrew Balding

Keats (IRE)                                                   Michael Tabor                       Aidan O'Brien IRE

Khabaab (IRE)                      Godolphin       Saeed bin Suroor                       

Khalifa Sat (IRE)                  Ahmad Al Shaikh                                      Andrew Balding

Khaloosy (IRE)                     Hamdan Al Maktoum                              Roger Varian

King Fairy (IRE)                 Sunderland Holding Inc                            William Haggas

Kipling (IRE)                        Michael Tabor                                         Aidan O'Brien IRE

Kipps (IRE)                           M Kerr-Dineen, M Hughes & W Eason        Hughie Morrison

Law of One (IRE)                       Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd                       Sir Michael Stoute

Lope Y Fernandez (IRE)               Sue Magnier                                               Aidan O'Brien IRE

Lost Eden (IRE)                           Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum     Richard Hannon

Louve                                             R Dupuy-Naulot                               Fabrice Vermeulen FR

Luncies                                  Bill & Tim Gredley                               Simon Crisford

Maori Knight (IRE)                  White Beech Farm                          Richard Hughes

Mark of Gold               Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum           Richard Hannon

Matthew Flinders                     S Stuckey                                                  Ed Walker

Memorabilis (IRE)                                   Michael Tabor                                Aidan O'Brien IRE

Mogul                                              Sue Magnier                                   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Monarch of Egypt (USA)                        Sue Magnier                                Aidan O'Brien IRE

Monument Valley (IRE)                        Derrick Smith                             Aidan O'Brien IRE

Moomba (IRE)                                    Benny Andersson                        Amanda Perrett

Mr G Hussain                                         Alabbas Lootah                      William Haggas

Mr Tambourine Man (IRE)     Derrick Smith                                       Aidan O'Brien IRE

My Oberon (IRE)                     Sunderland Holding Inc                        William Haggas

Mythical (FR)                           Derrick Smith                                            Aidan O'Brien IRE

Napa Valley (IRE)                    Sue Magnier                                          Aidan O'Brien IRE

Nasraawy (USA)                     Hamdan Al Maktoum                            John Gosden

Nevendon                               Bill & Tim Gredley                                     Michael Bell

Nobel Prize (IRE)                              Derrick Smith                                       Aidan O'Brien IRE

Noonday Gun                                   Rockcliffe Stud                                      Richard Hannon

Nova Roma                                Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum John Gosden

Numen (IRE)                                   Sue Magnier                                             Aidan O'Brien IRE

Order of Australia (IRE)  Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Annemarie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE

Palm Beach (IRE)                             Derrick Smith                                     Aidan O'Brien IRE

Papa Power                                    King Power Racing Co Ltd                    Andrew Balding

Paradiso (IRE)                                   Sue Magnier                                  Aidan O'Brien IRE

Persia (IRE)                                     Sue Magnier                                      Aidan O'Brien IRE

Pharoah King (USA)                        Qatar Racing Limited                        John Gosden

Port Lockroy (FR)                              Annemarie O'Brien                      Joseph O'Brien IRE

Postileo (IRE)                                  Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

Ramesses The Great (USA)              Michael Tabor                              Aidan O'Brien IRE

Retrospect (IRE)                       Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum   Roger Varian

Robert Walpole                      Bill and Tim Gredley                           George Scott

Royal Dornoch (IRE)  Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

Royal Lytham (FR)     Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

Russian Emperor (IRE)                Atlantic Jewel Syndicate                 Aidan O'Brien IRE

San Pedro (IRE)       Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor      Aidan O'Brien IRE

Santiago (IRE)           Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Satono Japan (JPN) Satomi Horse Company Ltd                            Sir Michael Stoute

Serpentine (IRE)      Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Sheer Bravado (IRE) Jackie Bolger                                                        Jim Bolger IRE

Sherpa (IRE) Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Sue Magnier/Annemarie O'Brien Donnacha O'Brien IRE

Shoshone Warrior (IRE)                                 Sue Magnier                    Aidan O'Brien IRE

Silver Fox (IRE)                                        Michael Tabor                           Aidan O'Brien IRE

Sky Commander (IRE)                            Saeed Manana                         James Tate

Solar Screen (IRE)             Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum                Roger Varian

Star of Juniper (JPN)   Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith  Donnacha O'Brien IRE

Starcat                                      Martin Hughes & Michael Kerr-Dineen   Hughie Morrison

Stepney Causeway                       Bill and Tim Gredley                            Michael Bell

Sunchart                                      P Garvey                                            Andrew Slattery IRE

Tammani Prince                                     A A Faisal                                 William Haggas

Taqareer (IRE)                               Hamdan Al Maktoum                       John Gosden

Taramansour (IRE)                       HH Aga Khan                                   Dermot Weld IRE

Thames River                              Sun Bloodstock SARL                      Joseph O'Brien IRE

Thank You Power (IRE)                   King Power Racing Co Ltd             David Elsworth

The Boatman (IRE)                              Derrick Smith                            Aidan O'Brien IRE

The Seventh Day (IRE)                Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum   Richard Hannon

Thumur (USA)                                 Hamdan Al Maktoum                           Owen Burrows

Thunderous (IRE)                        Highclere T'Bred Racing - George Stubbs  Mark Johnston

Tiger Moth (IRE)                           Derrick Smith                                  Aidan O'Brien IRE

To Nathaniel                                    George Strawbridge                    John Gosden

Toronto (IRE)                  Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor   Aidan O'Brien IRE

Tuscan Gaze (IRE)                    Lady Bamford, Magnier, Smith & Tabor    John Gosden

Tyson Fury                    Balasuriya,Cook,Cunningham,Gowing,Spencer      Richard Spencer

Ursa Minor (IRE)                               Godolphin                                                 John Gosden 

Valyrian Steel (IRE)                               HH SH Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa      Roger Varian

Vatican City (IRE)                                         Michael Tabor                            Aidan O'Brien IRE

Verdon Gorge (IRE)                              Sun Bloodstock SARL                     Joseph O'Brien IRE

Victory Road (IRE)                                 Annemarie O'Brien                        Aidan O'Brien IRE

Vintage Rascal (FR)               Charlie Rosier & Mrs Julia Rosier                   Tom Ward

Waldkonig                         Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud       John Gosden

War Cross (USA)                      Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited                 Ed Vaughan

Yankee Stadium (IRE) Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Moyglare Stud Farm  Aidan O'Brien IRE

Year of The Tiger (IRE) Smith/Sue Magnier/Tabor/Flaxman Stables          Aidan O'Brien IRE

139 entries remain following 3 March scratchings deadline 63 Irish-trained 4 French-trained

About Epsom Downs Racecourse & the Investec Derby Festival

Epsom Downs Racecourse is situated on the North Downs in Surrey, some 15 miles from central London. Epsom is a historic training centre and home to a number of racing stables. The racecourse is the venue for the Greatest Flat Race in the World, the Group One Investec Derby, run for the 241st time in 2020, which takes place on the first Saturday in June and is Britain's richest race.

The Investec Derby Festival also features the Investec Oaks and the Investec Coronation Cup, both also run over the Derby course of one mile and four furlongs for three-year-old fillies and older horses respectively, on Investec Ladies' Day.

The Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, two of the five British Classics, are for three-year-olds, with the former open to colts and fillies and the latter to fillies.

Investec started sponsoring the Investec Derby Festival in 2009 and will continue to back the great event until 2026.

The 2020 Investec Derby Festival is staged on Friday and Saturday, June 5 & June 6.

More information is available at: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom

Epsom Downs is part of The Jockey Club which has been at the heart of British racing for more than 260 years and stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Festival™ presented by Magners and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences The Jockey Club offers through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny made goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. The Jockey Club was founded in 1750 and today is the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and the charity, Racing Welfare.