Jim Crowley Blog | The Derby
31 May 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, previews his only ride at Epsom on Saturday, on Deira Mile in The Derby.
The Derby (16:30 Epsom) – Deira Mile
The first thing to say is the Derby is still top of the list of races I, and just about every flat jockey, wants to win. It’s a great race with a great history, and it’s hard enough to get on a horse in the race, let alone one that has a chance of winning. This year I’m on Deira Mile, previously trained by Charlie Johnston, and now with Owen Burrrows, and he’s an exciting horse I’m really looking forward to riding.
His two-year-old form was good, but he was always going to be a better three-year-old, and whilst he was entitled to win on his reappearance at Windsor, and duly did, it was the feel he gave me when I rode him around Epsom at their Derby preview morning recently that really convinced me he has a live chance in what looks an open renewal. We’re drawn in 14, which is OK, certainly preferable to being very low, and he’s versatile in terms of going.
City Of Troy is the enigma in the race, he’s got to bounce back from a disappointing Guineas run, but we’ve seen Aidan O’Brien get horses back to form before, so he can’t be written off. Anicent Wisdom looks a strong contender, Ambiente Friendly won well at Lingfield, Dancing Gemini should appreciate the step up in trip, so there are several I can make a case for, but I believe my fellow is in the group of horses who can definitely win this.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
The Derby (16:30 Epsom) – Deira Mile
The first thing to say is the Derby is still top of the list of races I, and just about every flat jockey, wants to win. It’s a great race with a great history, and it’s hard enough to get on a horse in the race, let alone one that has a chance of winning. This year I’m on Deira Mile, previously trained by Charlie Johnston, and now with Owen Burrrows, and he’s an exciting horse I’m really looking forward to riding.
His two-year-old form was good, but he was always going to be a better three-year-old, and whilst he was entitled to win on his reappearance at Windsor, and duly did, it was the feel he gave me when I rode him around Epsom at their Derby preview morning recently that really convinced me he has a live chance in what looks an open renewal. We’re drawn in 14, which is OK, certainly preferable to being very low, and he’s versatile in terms of going.
City Of Troy is the enigma in the race, he’s got to bounce back from a disappointing Guineas run, but we’ve seen Aidan O’Brien get horses back to form before, so he can’t be written off. Anicent Wisdom looks a strong contender, Ambiente Friendly won well at Lingfield, Dancing Gemini should appreciate the step up in trip, so there are several I can make a case for, but I believe my fellow is in the group of horses who can definitely win this.
Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
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