Frankie Dettori, who will be riding in the Derby at Epsom for the last time on Saturday, has said he hopes “this beautiful event” will not be affected by protesters from the animal rights group, Animal Rising.
Speaking on BBC One’s Breakfast programme, the 52-year-old jockey said that “most of the people in racing, we actually do it because we love the animals”, adding: “I don’t really follow the politics, a lot of people have got issues about a lot of things in this day and age.
“I just hope that things go smoothly on Saturday, that we can get racing without creating any problems for anyone or putting anyone in danger.”
Dettori rode in the Derby for the first time in 1992, finishing 16th of 17 starters on Pollen Count, and has won the race twice – in 2007 and 2015 – in 27 starts in the Epsom Classic.
He will ride Arrest, the winner of last month’s Chester Vase, in Saturday’s race. John Gosden’s colt drew stall 13 of 14 when the final declarations were made on Thursday morning, and is currently the fourth-favourite, at around 11-2, to give Dettori a third and final victory in the Classic.
Dettori’s final ride in the Oaks, meanwhile, will be aboard Soul Sister, the 5-2 second-favourite for the fillies’ Classic at Epsom on Friday.
Animal Rising, a group which staged a demonstration at the Grand National at Aintree in April which led to a 15-minute delay to the race, has said that it intends to target the two-day Derby Festival at Epsom, with the ultimate aim of stopping the Classic, which is due off at 1.30pm on Saturday, taking place.
This is despite the Jockey Club, which owns and operates Epsom, being granted an injunction at the High Court last week which would make activists liable for damages, and potentially even imprisonment for contempt of court, if they enter or obstruct the track during the meeting.
Saturday’s race, conceived in the 18th century to establish the outstanding three-year-old middle-distance colt of every generation, will be the 244th in an unbroken line that stretches back to Diomed, the winner in 1780.
“It’s our biggest race,” Dettori said. “When you start as a jockey, that’s the race you want to win. The Epsom Derby is like tennis players with Wimbledon or Formula One drivers [with] Monaco. It’s the one you want to win.”
Running Lion can roar in the Oaks
Frankie Dettori said on Thursday that he feels only three of the 11 runners – Savethelastdance, Running Lion and his own mount, Soul Sister – have a realistic chance to win the Oaks at Epsom on Friday, and all three won significant trials for the Classic in such impressive style that it is hard to disagree.
They are also separated by just 2lb on Timeform’s ratings, with a 10lb gap to the remainder. The market, though, much prefers the chances of Savethelastdance, the 22-length winner of the Chester Vase on heavy ground, and Soul Sister, who bounced back to form in the Musidora at York a week later.
They are priced up at 5-4 and 5-2 respectively, with Running Lion (4.30), who was similarly impressive in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket, as big as 6-1 in the betting.
That reflects some uncertainty over whether she will see out the 12-furlong trip, not least because her sire, Roaring Lion, palpably failed to do so in the Derby in 2018. She got 10 furlongs well enough on soft ground at Newmarket, however, when it was also noticeable how readily she settled for Oisin Murphy.
She responded immediately when Murphy switched to look for a gap, powering four-and-a-half lengths clear at the line, and her ability to relax, travel and then quicken will give her a much better chance on Friday than the market might imply.
Epsom 2.00 Mark Johnston won this contest three times in a dozen years before handing on his licence to his son, Charlie, and Yorkshire Terrier is an interesting contender at around 12-1. He is a little more exposed than most of this field with three runs under his belt, but his only defeat came when giving weight all round in a hot Newmarket novice in April and he should find more for this step up to six furlongs.
Epsom 2.35 Fantastic Fox ran one of his best races in this contest 12 months ago, finishing two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, and lines up from a 5lb lower mark here. He was fifth in a strongly-run race over an extra two furlongs last time and the return to an extended mile should also be a benefit.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Friday tips
Show
Carlisle 1.10 Willing To Please 1.40 Kylian 2.15 Iris Dancer 2.50 B Associates 3.25 Little Red Dancer 4.05 Slippin Jimmy 4.45 La Feile 5.16 Tarbat Ness
Chepstow 1.20 Ticket To Alaska 1.50 Monte Linas 2.25 Rhubarb 3.00 Some Nightmare 3.35 Dundory 4.15 Escarpment 4.50 Dog Fox
Epsom 2.00 Yorkshire Terrier 2.35 Fantastic Fox (nap) 3.10 Westover (nb) 3.45 Bad Company 4.30 Running Lion 5.10 Holguin 5.45 Urban Sprawl
Doncaster 5.05 Wadi Bani 5.40 Modesty 6.15 Diamondonthehill 6.45 Aimeric 7.15 Perfuse 7.45 Maxzeno 8.15 Another Run 8.50 Bookmark
Stratford 5.35 Magic Saint 6.05 Solomon Grey 6.35 Quintin’s Man 7.05 Secret Investor 7.35 Caryto Des Brosses 8.05 Raleagh Flora 8.40 Old Gold
Catterick 5.55 Golden Gal 6.25 Invincible Royale 6.55 Scottish Dancer 7.25 Eeh Bah Gum 7.55 Written Broadcast 8.25 Elusive Angel 9.00 Prospect
Epsom 3.10 A small but high-class field for the Coronation Cup, with all five runners worthy of close consideration. Fast ground might not be ideal for Hurricane Lane, Point Lonsdale and Tunnes, however, while also bringing the best out of Westover, last year’s Irish Derby winner after a third-place finish behind Desert Crown in the Derby.
Epsom 3.45 A price of around 10-1 could be generous if Bad Company can maintain the form that saw him finish second at Goodwood last month. That was on heavy ground but he has form on a faster surface too, and also goes well at this track.
