The reappearance of a long-term favourite for the Derby in Britain\u2019s most significant trial is always a moment to savour, but the fact that O\u2019Brien has won the previous four adds an extra dimension to Thursday\u2019s contest.<\/p>\n
His dominance at Chester, Lingfield and Leopardstown is not unprecedented, as he also hoovered up the Chester Vase and the Dee Stakes, and the Derby Trials at Lingfield and Leopardstown in 2013, 2019 and 2022.<\/p>\n
His Dante runners in those years, though, were not seen as potential Ballydoyle first-strings for Epsom. Only one, in fact, even set off as the favourite, and that was a swiftly forgotten twice-raced maiden winner, Indian Chief, who finished third in the 2013 Dante, and required 21 subsequent starts and two changes of stable before finally adding to his win tally, off a mark of 65 at Chepstow in 2016.<\/p>\n
Alpine Trail, trained by in-form Charlie Appleby, faces Derby favourite The Lion in Winter at York this week. Photograph: David Davies\/PA<\/p>\n
The Lion In Winter is a very different proposition, having been on top of the Derby betting since his win in the Acomb Stakes at York last August, with Ruling Court, this year\u2019s 2,000 Guineas winner and current Derby second-favourite, back in third. He was as short as 6-1 for Epsom at that early stage of his career, and despite not having seen a racecourse since, The Lion In Winter is now no bigger than 3-1 to give his trainer a record-extending 11th win in the Derby.<\/p>\n
In a year when, uniquely, the reigning champion trainers both on the Flat and over jumps in Britain are both based in Ireland, the impression that O\u2019Brien has saved his best Derby contender for last seems to fit with an overall narrative of increasing Irish dominance under both codes.<\/p>\n
But the memory of O\u2019Brien\u2019s most recent Dante favourite \u2013 in fact, his only Dante favourite since Indian Chief \u2013 offers at least a little encouragement for The Lion In Winter\u2019s opponents on Thursday. Like The Lion In Winter, High Definition arrived on the Knavesmire having won his two starts as a juvenile and spent the winter at the head of the Derby betting. He set off at 13-8, finished third \u2013 and then, 11 races and as many defeats later, finally got another win on the board a few days short of his fifth birthday, in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.<\/p>\n
Quick GuideGreg Wood’s Tuesday tipsShow<\/p>\n
Worcester:\u00a0<\/b>2.00 God\u2019s Own Getaway 2.30 Jet Of Dreams 3.00 Captain Hugo 3.30 Ice In The Veins 4.00 Jena D\u2019Oudairies 4.30 Sirekoff 5.05 The Wire Flyer 5.35 Hey Mister Dj.<\/p>\n
Beverley:\u00a0<\/b>2.12 Homestrait 2.42 Larchill Lass 3.12 Opal Storm 3.42 Casilli (nb) 4.12 Zappata 4.42 Call Me Audrey.<\/p>\n
Chepstow:\u00a0<\/b>2.20 Fishermans Cottage 2.50 Steel Drum 3.20 Johnjay 3.50 Devas Boy (nap) 4.20 Saffredi 4.55 Forest Spirit.<\/p>\n
Sedgefield:\u00a0<\/b>5.40 Jackpot Cash 6.10 Vanilla Dancer 6.40 Delpotro 7.10 Lillistar 7.40 Gavin 8.10 Scairp Dubh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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If The Lion In Winter fails to live up to expectations on Thursday, there are several interesting candidates in the lineup that could yet head to Epsom as serious contenders for the Derby, and none more so, perhaps, than Raphael Freire\u2019s Tuscan Hills.<\/p>\n
Freire has had a solid start to his time at Freemason Lodge, with four wins from 22 runners so far, but Celestial King, Amo\u2019s sale-topping \u00a31.75m purchase at the Newmarket breeze-ups in April, was only fourth on debut at Ascot on Saturday, when he faded to finish nearly six lengths behind the winner.<\/p>\n
Joorabchian has already seen his colours carried into second place aboard big outsiders in the Derby in both 2021, when Mojo Star, at 50-1, was four and a half lengths behind Adayar<\/a>, and 2023, when King Of Steel, at 66-1, was just a half length behind Auguste Rodin<\/a>.<\/p>\n In an apparent partnership with Evangelos Marinakis \u2013 most recently seen venting his spleen<\/a> at Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Esp\u00edrito Santo, after his side conceded a late equaliser against Leicester<\/a> on Sunday \u2013 Joorabchian has been on a spectacular spending spree ever since last October\u2019s Book One sale at Tattersalls in Newmarket, where he went bid-for-bid with Sheikh Mohammed, no less, over a series of seven-figure yearlings.<\/p>\n Quick GuideBlackmore announces retirement from the saddleShow History-maker Blackmore retires from racing<\/strong><\/p>\n Rachael Blackmore, one of the most successful riders in National Hunt history and the first female jockey to ride the winner of the Grand National aboard Minella Times in 2021, has announced her immediate retirement from race-riding at the end of a ground-breaking 16-year career in the saddle.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the space of a remarkable 12 months from March 2021 to March 2022, Blackmore became the first female rider to win the Champion Hurdle, aboard Henry de Bromhead\u2019s Honeysuckle; landed the Grand National at Aintree on Minella Times; and then completed the set of jumping\u2019s most prestigious prizes by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard.\u00a0<\/p>\n Subsequent victories in the Champion Chase, on Captain Guinness in 2024, and Bob Olinger, in the Stayers\u2019 Hurdle two months ago, ensured she will retire having won all four of the Cheltenham festival\u2019s feature events. She was also the first, and so far only, female rider to be crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham festival, winning six races in all at the four-day meeting in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMy days of being a jockey have come to an end,\u201d Blackmore said in a statement on Monday. \u201cI feel the time is right. I\u2019m sad but I\u2019m also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years. I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Blackmore\u2019s statement concluded: \u201cIt is daunting, not being able to say that I am a jockey anymore \u2026 who even am I now! But I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the career I\u2019ve had.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo have been in the right place at the right time with the right people, and to have gotten on the right horses \u2013 because it doesn\u2019t matter how good you are without them. They have given me the best days of my life and to them I am most grateful.\u201d\u00a0Greg Wood<\/b><\/p>\n Photograph: David Davies\/PA<\/p>\n Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/4859.jpg\")
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