Ground report Good with good to firm in places and watering under way. Is it worth having horses in training that require ground fast enough "to hear their hooves rattle?" Showers possible Saturday on Derby Day so if heavy enough could turn softer side of good. I think that could be the difference between winning and losing for some in this field

Won't be made until 48 hour declarations will it? Can't imagine they'll do it with 29 possible runners!!

Why is Bullshit Bullet 13/8 in an 18 runner field?
He beat Flying Visit 2 1/4 lengths in the Ballysax, then Hurricane Lane beat Flying Visit 9 3/4 lengths in the Dante.
He look the greatest horse ever, but he has beaten little.

I'm not convinced by times nowadays harry.  They move rails so often, etc:, it is a risky business believing in them.  He looks a good horse but I agree with kincsem - his running hasn't been franked yet.

reading a ob in the post he is quite bullish about high definition which i found surprising . he said they went no gallop in the dante ! i was surprised by that . in my eyes it sounds like aob favours high def over bolshoi ballet despite the odds

im definitely not mocking . im leaning towards him

I'm on BB at 20/1 but would have him at 9/4 now not 5/4 value for me at the moment is Mac Swinney 7/1 and Van Gough 14/1.

Unless riding arrangements are changed someone is going to pick up a very nice spare ride on Gear Up.  Norton and little Hollie are engaged at Donny and the other usual suspects all have rides in the race itself.  Ben Curtis is free on Saturday - could well be him.
In a race full of puzzles I think I'm going to go with Mohaafeth.  We know he stays the trip - albeit at listed level, he acts on good to firm, the trainer is in form and Crowley is very able up top.  E.w on the day, on the machine, for an interest.

Gear Up looks a nice Leger type who could place here

Looks like he’s put a lot away aiden O’Brien,

he has been drifting for a while but all that muck yesterday just makes you feel ill.

really welcome news if ony one Ballydoyle declared tomorrow. maybe supreme confidence in BB?

AOB's positive comments regarding his Derby runners on Sunday with Nick Luck clearly pointed towards more than one runner and no doubt encouraged many to back accordingly. The about turn is terrible PR for him, Ballydoyle and Coolmore. They have every right to change their running plans but they have completely ignored the consequences of doing so. They have totally ignored the betting public in what is the worst case of dropping the punters in the mire that I can remember in over 45 years of following this sport.  O'Brien and his owners group have lost all respect and will never recover their reputation after this disservice to the betting public. They cannot be trusted to provide truthful statements.

A lot of work down the Kermit for me,

just leaves a sour taste and I’ve not had a bet. Others put away by this crew actions money wise , just isn’t good for racing.

From Tuesday's RP

 
Aidan O'Brien, the master trainer responsible for the top two in the Cazoo Derby market and seeking a record-extending ninth win in the race, expects the strong pace at Epsom on Saturday to bring out the best in High Definition, the stable's apparent second string.

Bolshoi Ballet heads the Derby betting and goes into the race as O'Brien's number-one contender, but the trainer believes there have been valid reasons for High Definition hitting flat spots in his races, adding that the Dante third has "a load of class".

High Definition hit a high of 99-1 in-running on the Betfair Exchange on the way to winning his first two races, and again found himself with a mountain to climb at York before staying on strongly to finish two lengths behind Hurricane Lane.


His preparation for the Dante was rushed as an unsatisfactory blood test ruled him out of his intended reappearance in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and the winter favourite for the Derby now finds himself the stable's second string and available at 7-1 with some firms behind general 5-4 favourite Bolshoi Ballet.

O'Brien, who was speaking via Zoom as part of the Jockey Club's countdown to the Derby, thinks a different High Definition to the one we have seen before will be on display on Saturday.

O'Brien said: "High Definition has a load of class. His only run this year was at York and it wasn't a strongly run mile and a quarter. You rarely get a Derby that is not strongly run, so I'm not too worried about that [him finding himself far back] because he does make up ground very quickly, even though you might see the jockey starting to move on him. Because he has such a big long stride, a jockey is always going to look like they are moving on him.

"Epsom is a unique track and you're never sure of any horse when they go there but, usually, if they're good enough on the day the track is not too much of a problem. It becomes a problem when you're in top gear and you can't find another one."

H
Explaining why High Definition found himself so far back when he won his maiden at the Curragh, and again in the Beresford at the same venue, O'Brien said: "How it all happened was that first time in a maiden Wayne Lordan rode him and we just said to Wayne that he was a big horse and we didn't want to be forcing him into anything. We told Wayne to take his time in the first half of the race and see what happens. That's what Wayne did, and he came home very well.

"It was the same in the Beresford next time, but we never forced him out. He found himself a little bit back in that race, but we didn't want to change things too much. When Ryan Moore rode him at York it was the same thing. I told Ryan not to be in any rush with him early and to let him find his feet and then see what happens.

"We have never really asked him to do anything other than that. I know he gets a little bit back in his races sometimes and, when that does happen, it makes it a bit more difficult."



O'Brien is still unsure how many he will run in race, but it is highly unlikely all six of his current entries will stand their ground.

He explained: "Nothing is definite yet. They all did their last piece of work this morning [Tuesday] and the figures from that are being analysed at the moment. Then they will have their bloods done and scoped in the morning. We will have the results tomorrow lunchtime or a little later and then the lads will decide what they want to do.

"Sir Lamorak and Kyprios are in there. Van Gogh has an option in France and The Mediterranean is entered at Leopardstown on Thursday. Everything went well this morning so it is a case of so far so good."


Everyone involved with this story, including journalists and TV presenters, ought to be ashamed that they acrry O'Briens remarks without a wealth and health warning. I hope that there is an outcry of some magnitude.

This is very bad PR for horseracing no matter where one sits regards AOB and Coolmore. An absolute disregard for punters on the biggest 3 yr old Flat race. Nothing but shameful on connections.

I hope (if Bolshoi Ballet) is the only one declared something untoward would prevent his participation on the day eg logistic, bolted before race or jinked at the start. The Coolmore lot do not deserve any sympathy or respect from horseracing followers or punters, I firmly believe after this despicable behaviour to the sport and punters.

'NOTHING IS DEFINITE YET.'
Spare me the self pity guys. If you've been backing HD for the Derby, you've got it wrong. He hasn't been withdrawn to spite you - it's because he's not going to be good enough. Backers have made a massive error of judgement, but I guess it's more convenient to lash out and blame someone else. Go and watch the videos of his 3 races and ask yourself why anyone fancied him for Epsom.

Have you never heard O'Brien speak about his horses before?

Nevermind.....................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't agree with what they've done but it is their right to do as they wish.  I don't necessarily blame O Brien either, he simply follows orders but the fact that he has talked some of these horses up is what sticks in the craw.  It's the Coolmore mob who should be villified in my view.
But the bottom line is still the same as it always was.  Ante post betting is for mugs. Anything can happen and, for me, unless you go into it accepting that your horse might not go - that is after all the essence of getting a bigger price a/p than on the day at s/p - then you shouldn't invest.  Simple as that.
Commiserations to all those losing stakes.
Disgust for be tf ai r who still feature these horses in their market.

It reminds me of Jim Bolger and the furore he caused with New Approach by saying he definitely wouldn't run then changed his mind. Everyone was so pisssed of and really slagged him off..I remember there was a whole article in the RP about how he even called it the 'Epsom' Derby..how dare he !!! Now we get thread titles like that and they have been calling it that on ITV and no one bats an eyelid (except for me seething at home).
Everyone was so pisssed off with him that no one wanted him to win so no one backed it and so for some crazy reason the form horse went off at 5/1 and was bigger in the morning. Harry Callaghan likes to report people for aftertiming so I may or may not have been thrilled with the price and I may or may not have backed him large. So the moral of the story is don't let anger affect your judgement when there is clearly an obvious winner..