-
2 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
Genius comes in many forms – do not let the flat cap and even flatter Yorkshire vowels put you off the scent. He may not have had the professorial authority of Vincent O’Brien or the aristocratic bearing of Sir Henry Cecil but Miles Henry Easterby fully deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as them when discussing 20th century legends of the training profession.
-
2 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr |Andrew Dietz
Peter Easterby, the hugely successful trainer who founded a Yorkshire dynasty, died in the early hours of Monday morning at the age of 95. He won a then record five Champion Hurdles and also landed two Cheltenham Gold Cups in his 46 years with a licence. But he was just as formidable an operator on the Flat and became the first man to train 1,000 winners under both codes.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
Hopes of a first triple crown winner in 55 years were washed away as rain-softened ground caused Ruling Court to be pulled out of the Betfred Derby (3.30). Underfoot conditions at Epsom were deemed unsuitable for Godolphin's colt and he was withdrawn more than an hour and a half before the race. Ruling Court had been disputing favouritism for the Derby ever since his victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
Lambourn maintained Aidan O'Brien's stranglehold on the Betfred Derby by coming out on top at Epsom. He gave his trainer a third consecutive victory in the race and a record-extending 11th success overall. The colt had been beaten at Leopardstown in March by stablemate and favourite Delacroix, who was the chosen mount of Ryan Moore here. But he won the Chester Vase next time out and followed up four weeks later under Wayne Lordan, making all to win his first Derby.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | Keith Melrose |David Carr
The Surrey Stakes is something of a late trial for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, although it must be said not a particularly successful one. Even Space Blues, by far the most famous recent winner of this race, was beaten at Ascot. But success these days is not just judged by subsequent Group-race success. All four three-year-old winners of the Surrey since Space Blues (the race was temporarily opened to older horses in 2020) have been sold abroad, the last three within a year.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
Aidan O'Brien may not hold the ace but he has the king, queen and jack and has shown time and again nobody plays this sort of hand better. The trainer’s record haul of 45 British Classics includes ten Oaks, from Shahtoush in 1998 to Tuesday three years ago. And while Godolphin’s Desert Flower is the obvious favourite for the race this year, Ballydoyle have won Britain’s three biggest trials for this race since her 1,000 Guineas success and run them all against her here.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
Epsom is doing its best to help David Aykroyd enjoy the experience of owning a leading fancy for the big race even though he is suffering from dementia. He and his wife Vimy have just four mares at their stud in Yorkshire but they bred Pride Of Arras, who thrust himself into the Derby picture by winning the Dante Stakes at York last month. The colt now races solely in Vimy's colours.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
HomeNewsFestivalsDerby festivalStanhope Gardens (left) was Ralph Beckett's Derby horse in the winterCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Stanhope Gardens is a much bigger price than Dante-winning stablemate Pride Of Arras but Ralph Beckett revealed on Thursday he saw that colt as his likely Derby horse in the winter. The bookmakers got it wrong when the trainer had a one-two in the Oaks 12 years ago, with 20-1 shot Talent beating 3-1 chance Secret Gesture.
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | David Carr
Here you can read a free sample of The Front Runner, our award-winning newsletter normally available exclusively for Racing Post+ subscribersand today written by David Carr. Subscribers can get more great insight, tips and racing chat from The Front Runner every Monday to Friday. Those who aren't yet signed up for The Front Runner should click here to sign up and start receiving emails immediately!Not a Racing Post+ subscriber?
-
3 weeks ago | 
racingpost.com | Robbie Wilders |David Carr
The biggest Derby field in years awaits. Every runner with the exception of the five from Ballydoyle has a jockey booked, and the maximum quota of 20 may be filled. Pre-declaration analysis is better used for establishing a shortlist rather than striking a bet. Punters are getting three places each-way at the time of writing, but that could extend to five with leading bookmakers after the final line-up is revealed on Thursday.
