COUNTDOWN TO INVESTEC DERBY AND OAKS FESTIVAL JUNE 4th AND 5th 2010

- 19 REMAIN IN INVESTEC DERBY

- TOMPKINS HOPING FOR RAIN



- 25 FILLIES STILL ENGAGED IN INVESTEC OAKS

– HILLS SEEKING A CHAMPAGNELIFESTYLE



The countdown to the 2010 Investec Derby Festival intensifies today 21st May with the unveiling of the latest acceptors for the Investec Derby and the Investec Oaks, following yesterday’s scratchings stage.





A total of 19 contenders remain in the premier Classic, which will boast a prize fund of at least £1,250,000 when run on Saturday, June 5. Over the past weeks, trials have been held for the Investec Derby and several exciting contenders have emerged.



There is one final chance to enter the Investec Derby, with supplementary entries having to be made by noon on Monday, May 31, at a cost of £75,000.



The last horse to win the Chester Vase en route to Investec Derby success was the mighty Shergar in 1981. A trainer hoping to change that statistic is Newmarket-based Mark Tompkins, who sent out Ted Spread to score in the Group Three contest on the Roodee on May 6.



totesport, official betting partner of the 2010 Investec Derby Festival, rate the son of Beat Hollow a 40/1 chance.



Tompkins revealed today: “Ted Spread did a bit of work on Friday morning and we are very happy with him - we just want some rain between now and June 5.



“He will stay the trip and he is an improving horse. He will have learned a lot at Chester and his temperament is bombproof - he will just stand there and pick grass.



“If it rains and the ground comes in our favour, then I would hope that he could be fifth or sixth.”



Trainer Aidan O’Brien, who is seeking a third success in the Investec Derby following the victories of Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), looks to hold another formidable hand this year with six contenders remaining. These include totesport’s current 7/4 favourite St Nicholas Abbey who was the stunning winner of the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last season before finishing sixth on his seasonal reappearance in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 1. Cape Blanco, the 5/1 second favourite with totesport, maintained his unbeaten record with a decisive victory in the Group Two totesport.com Dante Stakes at York on May 13, while 7/1 third favourite Midas Touch could bid to follow in the footsteps of Galileo and High Chaparral having taken the Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on his latest appearance. Other possible starters from Ballydoyle include At First Sight (50/1), Bright Horizon (66/1) and Group One Criterium International victor Jan Vermeer (14/1).



O’Brien told At The Races on Thursday: “St Nicholas Abbey is in good form. Everything has been so far, so good with him and we are obviously still looking at Epsom with him.



“It was his first run of the year at Newmarket and he jumped out and was a little bit fresh. Frankie Dettori’s horse gave him a bump and got him going a bit earlier than he wanted to.



“He just maybe went into top gear a little bit early and then, when the race really started, he never got a chance to relax. The race was over by the time he started getting going but we were happy with him.



“In an ideal world, we would have preferred a better pace so he could settle, relax and get into a nice rhythm. It wasn’t to be on the day but all of the horses have been coming on a lot from their runs and we are hoping that they have come forward a good bit.



“He has always been a well-balanced horse and he has loads of speed, which we have always seen. We never thought that Epsom would be a problem for him.



“Cape Blanco is in good form as well and he has been cantering since York, while Midas Touch has been in good form since Leopardstown. They are both back in full work and we will take it day by day and see how their work goes - we are happy with both.”



Henry Cecil and Sir Michael Stoute hold the distinction of being the most successful current trainers in the Investec Derby, with both Newmarket handlers having enjoyed four victories. This year Henry Cecil is set to be represented by Bullet Train (10/1), who was the impressive winner of the Group Three totesport.com Derby Trial at Lingfield Park on May 8, while Stoute’s chance of landing a fifth success in the Classic rests with Workforce (12/1), who looks sure to come on for his seasonal reappearance when runner-up to Cape Blanco at York.



Other Derby-winning trainers who could be represented in the 2010 renewal include John Golden, successful with Benny The Dip in 1997, who has left in Group Three Dee Stakes scorer Azmeel (16/1) while Michael Bell, who saddled Motivator to triumph in 2005, could run Coordinated Cut (16/1), who landed the valuable Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy at Newmarket in April and was third behind Cape Blanco at York.



The Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation has three contenders going forward at the moment in Al Zir (33/1), third behind St Nicholas Abbey at Doncaster last season, Ameer (33/1) and Chabal (25/1), who landed the Group Three Classic Trial at Sandown Park on April 23 but ran disappointingly last time out behind Cape Blanco at York. A likely starter for Godolphin on June 5 is Rewilding (12/1). Previously trained in France by Andre Fabre and placed at Group Two level in April, the Tiger Hill colt made an eye-catching British debut for Mahmood Al Zarooni when taking the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on May 19 impressively by four lengths. As he does not currently hold an Investec Derby entry, Rewilding will have to be supplemented at a cost of £75,000 on Monday, May 31, at the five-day confirmation stage.



The one remaining entry from France is the Freddie Head-trained Mubtassim (40/1), although Head has revealed that the colt is highly unlikely to head to Epsom Downs.



Other contenders remaining include the outsiders Averroes (200/1), Gumnd (200/1), Hot Prospect (50/1) and Trovare (500/1).



Investec Derby - totesport bet: 7/4 St Nicholas Abbey, 5 Cape Blanco, 7 Midas Touch, 10 Bullet Train, 12 Rewilding*, Workforce, 14 Jan Vermeer, 16 Azmeel, Coordinated Cut, 25 Chabal, 33 Al Zir, Ameer, 40 Mubtassim, Ted Spread, 50 At First Sight, Hot Prospect, 66 Bright Horizon, 200 Averroes, Gumnd, 500 Trovare.



* needs to be supplemented



INVESTEC OAKS ATTRACTS 25



The highlight of Investec Ladies Day, Friday, June 4, is the £350,000 Investec Oaks, run over the same mile and a half as the Investec Derby, which has 25 fillies going forward after the latest scratchings deadline.



Trainer Barry Hills has yet to capture the Investec Oaks during his long career but has gone very close on occasions, most notably when saddling both Slightly Dangerous (1982) and Bourbon Girl (1987) to finish second. This year he is set to run Champagnelifestyle (25/1 with totesport), a winner over seven furlongs at Newmarket last season who began this season by finishing third, beaten a length, in the Listed Cheshire Oaks on May 5.



Charlie Hills, assistant trainer to his father, commented: “She is moving great at the moment and we couldn’t be more pleased with her.



“Our filly Acquainted, who was in front of her at Chester, came out and won nicely yesterday at Haydock and they are both two progressive, lightly-raced fillies.



“It looks like it will be a very open Investec Oaks this year and you wouldn’t be afraid of running a filly like Champagnelifestyle in the race. She stays very well and, while she could possibly do with a bit of rain, the ground at Epsom is always a very good racing surface.”



Heading the market at 9/2 with totesport is Rumoush. Trained by Marcus Tregoning, the daughter of Rahy saw off the colts to land the Listed Feilden Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket in April and then stayed on well in the closing stages to take seventh behind Special Duty in 1000 Guineas at the same course on May 2.



No current trainer can match that of Henry Cecil in the Investec Oaks and the master of Warren Place looks to hold an excellent chance of landing a ninth victory in the Classic with totesport’s current 11/2 second favourite Aviate, who is unbeaten in three outings and completed her preparation for Epsom Downs with victory in the Group Three Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York on May 19. Cecil is also likely to be represented by Timepiece, the 13/2 third favourite with totesport, who looked unlucky when fourth to Rumoush at Newmarket before taking second place in the Listed totesportcasino.com Lingfield Oaks Trial.



Jim Bolger saddled Jet Ski Lady for a shock 50/1 success in the 1991 Oaks and looks to have a leading protagonist for this year’s Classic in Akdarena (10/1), who prevailed over her elders when storming to a hugely impressive seven-length victory in the Group Three Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on May 12. Bolger could also run Gile Na Greine (12/1), who caught the eye when staying on to take third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2.



In total, there are nine Irish-trained entries still engaged including half a dozen from the Aidan O’Brien yard and the unbeaten Termagant (14/1), who is trained by Kevin Prendergast and was victorious in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last season. She is due to run in Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.



Owner Julian Richmond-Watson and trainer Ralph Beckett teamed up for success with Look Here in the 2008 Oaks and the same combination are set to run Ceilidh House (12/1) in this year’s Investec Oaks. As with Look Here, Ceilidh House completed her Epsom Downs preparation in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial in which she finished third.



Gertrude Bell (14/1) could bid to follow in the footsteps of 2007 Oaks heroine Light Shift, having taken the Listed Cheshire Oaks on her latest appearance. Trained by John Golden and owned by his wife Rachel Hood, the daughter of 2000 Derby victor Sinndar had Champagnelifestlye back in third when scoring on the Roodee.



The six-day confirmation stage for the Investec Oaks is on Saturday, May 29, when there is also a £20,000 supplementary entry stage.



Investec Oaks - totesport bet: 9/2 Rumoush, 11/2 Aviate, 13/2 Timepiece, 10 Akdarena, 12 Gile Na Greine, Ceilidh House, 14 Gertrude Bell, Termagant, 16 Remember When, 20 Awe Inspiring, 25 Hibaayeb, Lillie Langtry, Champagnelifestyle, 33 Cabaret, Marie de Medici, 50 Meeznah, Famous, Sajjhaa, Srda, 66 Bikini Babe, 100 Jira, Lady Lupus, Miss Miracle, Perfect Vision, Issabella Gem.



For further information please contact:



Rupert Trevelyan, Managing Director at Epsom Downs Racecourse, on 01372 726311



Andrew Cooper, Director of Racing at Epsom Downs Racecourse, on 07774 230850



Johnno Spence at JSC Sport on 07860 583307





THE 2010 INVESTEC DERBY

Class 1, Group 1, £1,250,000 Total Prize Fund, 4.00pm, Epsom Downs, Saturday, June 5, 2010. For three-year-olds only, entire colts & fillies, one mile & four furlongs. Entries closed December 2, 2008 (388 entries). First scratchings deadline noon, March 2, 2010 (122 remained - 2 subsequently scratched), £8,000 secondary entry stage noon, April 6, 2010 (8 extra entries received), second scratchings deadline noon, May 20, 2010 (19 remain), £75,000 supplementary entry & five-day confirmation stage, noon, May 31, 2010, final declaration stage 10am, June 3, 2010. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Thursday, May 20, 2010. May not include some overseas form.



Form Horse Owner Trainer

113-0 AL ZIR (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

113-20 AMEER (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

51-23 AT FIRST SIGHT (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

415-320 AVERROES (IRE) HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Clive Cox

110-21 AZMEEL M Al-Qatami& K M Al-Mudhaf John Golden

(6)(2)-5 BRIGHT HORIZON Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

1-21 BULLET TRAIN Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil

111-1 CAPE BLANCO (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

120-14 CHABAL (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

10-13 COORDINATED CUT (IRE) Lawrie Inman Michael Bell

0(6)-(2)(1)(6)42 GUMND (IRE) Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

216-33 HOT PROSPECT Alan Spence Michael Jarvis

411- JAN VERMEER (IRE) Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

314-1 MIDAS TOUCH Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Denford Stud Aidan O’Brien IRE

213-1 MUBTASSIM Hamdan Al Maktoum Freddie Head FR

111-6 ST NICHOLAS ABBEY (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

013-1 TED SPREAD False Nose 'n Glasses Partnership Mark Tompkins

000- TROVARE (USA) John Connolly Amanda Perrett

1-2 WORKFORCE Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute



19 entries remain after May 20 scratchings deadline

6 Irish-trained

1 French-trained



THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ABRASIVE (IRE), ALBURJ (USA), ANCIENT KINGDOM (USA), ANHAR (USA), APRES VOUS (IRE), ARABIAN HISTORY (USA), ATLANTIS STAR, AWAIT THE DAWN (USA), AWSAAL, BAB AL SHAMS (IRE), BEETHOVEN (IRE), BEHTARINI (IRE), BIG OCCASION (IRE), BITTER MAN (IRE), BLISSFUL MOMENT (USA), BOLD QUEST (IRE), BOMBADERO (IRE) , BRIDGE MOUNTAIN (USA), BURJ NAHAR, BURNETT (IRE), CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, CARRAIGLAWN (IRE), CHINK OF LIGHT, CLEAR ALTERNATIVE (IRE), CLEARWATER BAY (IRE), COSMO MEADOW (IRE), DANCE AT DAWN (IRE), DESERT MYTH (USA), DEUX ETOILES (IRE), DIBIR (FR), DON CARLOS (GER), DYNASTY, EDINBURGH KNIGHT (IRE), EMIRATES DREAM (USA), ENCOMPASSING (IRE), ESHTYAAQ, ETON FOREVER (IRE), FAIR TRADE, FALCON FLIGHT (IRE), FAREEJ (USA), FENCING MASTER, FIGHTING BRAVE (USA), FLYING CROSS (IRE), GOMRATH (IRE), GREEN LIGHTNING (IRE), GREYFRIARSCHORISTA, HIGH TWELVE (IRE), IBN SINA (IRE), JOSEPH LISTER, JOSHUA TREE (IRE), KALYPSO KING, KING'S WARRIOR (FR), LATANSAA, LORD HIGH ADMIRAL (IRE), MAKANI (GER), MEINER GUT (JPN), MIKHAIL GLINKA (IRE), MONT AGEL, MORANA (IRE), MUFARRH (IRE), MULTAMES (IRE), MUTASAREB (USA), NEXT MOVE (IRE), NIBANI (IRE), NO HUBRIS (USA), NOBLE’S PROMISE (USA), ORIGINAL QUEST (IRE), PASSING THE TORCH (IRE), PASSION FOR GOLD, PEKAN STAR, PEKAN THREE (IRE), PETER MARTINS (IRE), POINT NORTH (IRE), POWERFUL MELODY (USA), PRINCE OF DREAMS, PROMPTER, PURPLE HEART (IRE), QUEST FOR GOLD, RAIN FOREST, RASHAAD (USA), RASMY, ROCKET MAN (IRE), RUBI DIA, SAIL BOAT (IRE), SCOTTISH REEL (IRE), SEPTEMBER MORN (IRE), SHERNANDO, SIDPOUR (IRE), SILVER FOX (IRE), SNOW BLIZZARD (IRE), SOUR MASH (IRE), SPACE AND TIME (IRE), SPEARTOOTH, STAR OF THE SHOW, STEINBECK (IRE), STUNNING VIEW (IRE), TAJAARUB, TAMAATHUL, TEXAN STAR (IRE), THEOLOGY, TREASURE TOWN, VICEROY (IRE), VISCOUNT NELSON (USA), VITA VENTURI (IRE), WASEET, YOUM JAMIL (USA), YUME YUME YUME (IRE), ZEITOPER, ZULU PRINCIPLE





THE 2010 INVESTEC OAKS

Class 1, Group 1, £350,000 Total Prize Fund. 4.05pm, Epsom Downs, Friday, June 4, 2010. For three-year-old fillies only. One mile & four furlongs. Weights: 9st each. Entries closed March 16, entries revealed March 18 (77 entries). Scratchings deadline noon, May 20 (25 remain). £20,000 supplementary entry stage and six-day confirmation stage May 29, final declaration stage 10.00am, June 2. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and include the racing up to and including Thursday, May 20.



Form Horse Owner Trainer

43133-411 AKDARENA Kirsten Rausing Jim Bolger IRE

(1)-11 AVIATE Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil

0(2)-21 AWE INSPIRING (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

0302-(5)(2)45 BIKINI BABE (IRE) Alan Spence Mark Johnston

2110-0 CABARET (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

1-3 CEILIDH HOUSE Julian Richmond-Watson Ralph Beckett

10-3 CHAMPAGNELIFESTYLE Champagne Friday Barry Hills

241524-02 FAMOUS (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

3(3)2-11 GERTRUDE BELL Rachel Hood John Golden

15-(2)3 GILE NA GREINE (IRE) Jackie Bolger & Harry Dobson Jim Bolger IRE

3221-0 HIBAAYEB Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

0-26 ISSABELLA GEM (IRE) Dennis Shaw Clive Cox

140435-(4)65 JIRA Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

0541-005 LADY LUPUS (IRE) Anne-Marie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE

121310- LILLIE LANGTRY (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

33124-431 MARIE DE MEDICI (USA) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

33-1 MEEZNAH (USA) Saif Ali & Saeed H Altayer David Lanigan

45-(2)0 MISS MIRACLE Dominic Burke & Peter Alderson Clive Cox

00(1)- PERFECT VISION Mildmay Racing Clive Cox

2-3 REMEMBER WHEN (IRE) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

(1)-10 RUMOUSH (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning

1 SAJJHAA Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

(1)(1)03 SRDA (USA) Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

11- TERMAGANT (IRE) Jorg Vasicek Kevin Prendergast IRE

2(1)1-42 TIMEPIECE Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil



25 entries remain after May 20 scratchings deadline

9 Irish-trained



THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: ALL FOR GLORY (USA), ALSALWA (IRE), ATTRACTIVE (IRE), BE MY STORM (IRE), BEBOPALULA (IRE), BLACK EYED SUSAN (IRE), BLAST FURNACE (IRE), BLUE MAIDEN, CATCHAFALLINGSTAR, DAINTY (USA), DANCE ON BY (IRE), DELICATE CHARM (IRE), DEVOTED TO YOU (IRE), DIAM QUEEN (GER), DYNA WALTZ, ELDALIL, GAKALINA (IRE), GALLIC STAR (IRE), GAY MIRAGE (GER), GIANTS PLAY (USA), GOLDEN WATERS, HUDOO, HYMNSHEET, ICE EMPRESS (IRE), KITHONIA (FR), LONG LASHES (USA), LOVEISALLYOUNEED (IRE), MOST STRIKING (USA), MUDAARAAH, MUJDEYA, NAMASKAR, PEACEFUL SOUL (USA), PICTURE PERFECT (IRE), PINK SYMPHONY, PIPETTE, POLLENATOR (IRE), PRINCIPAL ROLE (USA), RADIO WAVE, REVERED, SAGACIOUS (IRE), SENSE OF PURPOSE (IRE), SHIP'S BISCUIT, SIYAADAH, SLIABH NA MBAN (IRE), SUN SEEKER (IRE), SWEET DREAMS BABY (IRE), TOOTSIE WOOTSIE (IRE), UNITY (IRE), WEDDING MARCH (IRE), WELCOME ADDITION (USA), WINGS OF GRACE (USA), YOU'LL BE MINE (USA)