Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (Sponsored By Investec) the key attractions on Investec Derby Day, Saturday, June 2.

Horses running at the Investec Derby Festival got the chance to exercise on the unique undulating course today, while there were also interviews with many others hoping to be represented over the two days.

Two from Andrew Balding’s Kingsclere yard, Minimise Risk (Investec Derby) and a lead horse, Ispahan, did a seven-furlong spin. Minimise Risk, with Jimmy Fortune up, came out on top by a length.

Bonfire
Photo by Bill Selwyn
Highclere Thoroughbred Racing

He said: “Before this year, I haven’t had a horse who has got to this stage in the Investec Derby.

“I was delighted with Bonfire at York - he did everything we could have asked for and he seems to have come out of the race very well.

“He gave a buck on the gallops yesterday which is a good sign - he is a naturally fit horse. It is very exciting.

“We had a big meeting at the beginning of the year with the owners, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, and sat down to talk with Harry Herbert and John Warren about the best way to progress to June.

“Unfortunately, he had a dirty scope when we first hoped to run at the Craven meeting and the horse was getting bored and needed some stimulation. Carolyn Warren came up with the suggestion of sending him to Dan Jocelyn, a very accomplished event rider, who lives near us. We sent him there for a couple of sessions just to break up the routine.

“That helped and obviously we had the aborted mission to Chester, which might have dragged some horses down, but it seemed to really stimulate him which was good.

“I have to thank Minimise Risk for not running Bonfire at Chester. Minimise Risk had handled soft ground when he won his maiden at Newbury but he could not handle the conditions at Chester at all because the ground was just so saturated. He is a progressive horse and he grew up in the same paddock at Highclere (Stud) as Bonfire and Camelot. It is quite amazing - there was Vow at Highclere as well and between Highclere and Kingsclere there is a little place called Watership Down (Stud which has Investec Oaks hope The Fugue) is close by so next weekend is going to be quite something for a little valley.”

Asked by his sister, who described him as a Derby boffin, if he thinks about what it might be like to win the Derby, he replied: “No - I would not let myself think that because the Derby is everything.

“For everyone who trains racehorses it is the race. It has got over 230 years of history and, as you say, sad people like myself look through the records of the past and you see all the great names there. Obviously, you have got to have the aspiration to have your name on the list as well. It is a big occasion and I am really looking forward to it. I am grateful for having two horses good enough.

“I have most of the Derby racecards from 1964 onwards.”

Fortune, who partners Bonfire in the Investec Derby with Jamie Spencer on Minimise Risk, said: “I was very impressed with Bonfire in the Dante - he travelled very well - we got there far too early but I was very impressed by the way he stuck his head out. He certainly won going away.”

Asked whether the horse’s temperament will withstand the hullabaloo of Derby day, the jockey replied: “Of course he will. People have gone on about this horse’s temperament. He is a jack the lad - he likes to do things his own way - but no way does he worry or get upset. He is very genuine and he is actually a very easy ride when he is going.

“I have not ridden him since York and I very rarely ride him at home - I think I have only ridden work on him three times. Leanne Masterton rides him at home.

Imperial Monarch
Caroline Norris

“I think Bonfire will stay but he is not guaranteed to stay - we won’t know until the day. I really like the horse of Aidan’s (O’Brien - Imperial Monarch) who won the Sandown Trial. He impressed me that day and I’d say he would be as big a danger as the favourite (Camelot).

“It was routine work on Minimise Risk this morning. He cantered before striding on in the last two furlongs - he’d be a fair bit behind Bonfire.”

William Haggas is another trainer with a 100 per cent record in Epsom Downs Classics, having had one runner in the Investec Derby, Shaamit, who won in 1996 and one in the Investec Oaks, Musidora very easily - she has the quality to go very close.

“She has a realistic chance of winning the Oaks which is very exciting. That is the good thing about her - she has a great temperament.

“She was great before the race at York and travelled beautifully in it. She has done everything right and she strikes me as a filly who will go round Epsom, though you never really know until the day. I feel she has all the right attributes.

“Thought Worthy did well to win at Newmarket over his minimum trip. He looked beat but appreciated the rising ground and will definitely excel over a mile and a half . There is plenty of improvement in him but whether he will handle the track I am not sure. He deserves his chance.

“Masked Marvel went well this morning - the ground was too soft for him at Newmarket. The way he went this morning, you would have to be hopeful at Epsom.”

Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien was interviewed over the phone by Clare Balding.

Camelot
Caroline Norris

The trainer explained: “He tends to run a bit and looks like a horse who is going to stay too.

“I’d have gone for the Newmarket Guineas. That was the plan initially but the ground was not suitable at Newmarket.

“We have only one week between the races (Irish Guineas and Investec Derby) so we will have to see how he comes out of it. But he is a fairly hardy horse and I am expecting him to be fine after his run at the Curragh.

“I hope he wins at the Curragh. I think he is good enough to win a Classic - I would not mind if it was on Saturday.

“He will really come into his own when he gets 10 furlongs and a mile and a half. He is the first foal of the dam. I shouldn’t have huge expectations but he is already a Group One winner. I hope he can build on Saturday’s run.

“It looks like Aidan’s horse (Camelot in the Investec Derby) is the one that everybody has to beat.

“We will have some idea on Monday (whether Parish Hall will go for the Investec Derby) but it will have had to clarify itself by Wednesday.

“I am very keen to get him to Epsom - if I thought the horse was well, I’d give it a go.”

Rugged Cross was the final horse to experience the Epsom Downs track this morning. Trained by Henry Candy, who sent out the second Master Willie in 1980, and ridden by Dane O’Neill, the Investec Derby outsider cantered.

Andrew Cooper, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing at Epsom Downs, described how the ground has dried since Tuesday of last week.

The aim is to ensure that the Investec Derby is run on ground no faster than good to firm.