Horse racing news: Epsom Derby – Ryan Moore expecting Delacroix to run a big race in Surrey

World Pool will return for all eight races on Epsom’s Derby Stakes Day as well as being in operation for four races from Greyville’s Gold Challenge Day in South Africa on Saturday 7 June.

This season has seen World Pool’s Derby Stakes Day offering match that of last year’s, allowing punters from more than 28 jurisdictions to bet into the same pools on one of the most prestigious cards in British racing.

Last year’s G1 Derby Stakes was won emphatically by the Aidan O’Brien–trained City of Troy under a vintage ride from World Pool ambassador Ryan Moore, who partners Delacroix this time around.

With 19 runners set to go to post, it will be the biggest Derby field since 2003 when Sir Michael Stoute’s Kris Kin beat 19 other rivals.

Moore optimistic about Delacroix’s chances

Speaking on his World Pool blog, Moore said: “Delacroix has form with give in the ground, so should handle a bit of ease, but we don’t know how much we’re going to get. The closer it is to good ground, the more it will suit everyone, while soft ground means some horses will struggle in it.

“He’s had a very good preparation for this, having won nicely on both his starts this season, and he has plenty of experience on his side. Everything has gone very smoothly with him; we think he’s in good shape and we expect him to run a big race.”

On O’Brien’s other two runners, Lambourn and The Lion in Winter, Moore commented: “Lambourn will stay well and he’s an uncomplicated horse that can probably handle most types of going, while we’re not sure about The Lion in Winter.

“He’s never run on anything slower than good ground, but I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t go on it – he’s a good moving horse. At York, he was only just about ready to start back, so he should take a big step forward, and going up to a mile-and-a-half shouldn’t be a problem based on his pedigree.

“There’s very little to separate the three of them to be honest. They’re all there to run their race and I just have to hope that it pans out well for me.”

The full Derby Stakes Day blog from Moore can be found HERE.

READ MORE: Epsom Derby news: Ryan Moore opts for lowest rated of Oaks trio

World Pool offers top-class action

Both the G1 Derby Stakes and the G1 Gold Challenge were named in the IFHA Top 100 G1 races of 2024 as World Pool continues to be a key part of the world’s premier race meetings and showcase them to a global audience.

There will be seven World Pool bet types – Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Swinger), Forecast (Exacta), Tierce (Trifecta), and Treble – available on the action from Epsom.

With over six World Pool races on the card, there will be a World Pool Moment of the Day chosen on Derby Stakes Day, which will see the winning groom win a cheque for £4,000 (equivalent to HK$40,000) as well as entry into the World Pool Moment of the Year competition draw.

Last year’s Derby Stakes Day Moment of the Day winner was City of Troy’s groom David Hickey, after his pride and joy was a sensational winner of the day’s feature race for Aidan O’Brien. Subsequently, Hickey was chosen as the 2024 Moment of the Year, winning a VIP trip to Hong Kong.

Derby Stakes Day will also mark the latest day of the UK & Ireland World Pool Jockeys’ Championship, which is currently led by Oisin Murphy on 55.40 points after another big-priced victory on G1 Irish 2000 Guineas Day.

Winning jockeys of World Pool races in the UK and Ireland are awarded points based on the World Pool win odds, and the winning rider will be crowned at Ascot on British Champions Day in October.

Greyville’s four World Pool races, up from last year’s single race, will run concurrently with Epsom’s card and be globally commingled, including the G1 Gold Challenge, featuring Mike de Kock’s defending champion Dave the King, and the G2 HKJC World Pool Stakes for the fillies and mares.

Five World Pool bet types - Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Swinger), and Forecast (Exacta) – will be available on the four World Pool races on Greyville’s card.

Sam Nati, Head of Commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “We’re looking forward to returning to Epsom for Derby Stakes Day and to be commingling four races from Greyville’s Gold Challenge Stakes card on the same afternoon.

“The full eight-race card from Epsom, including the biggest Derby field for over 20 years, as well as the quartet from Greyville will bring top-class action to our World Pool punters across the globe.”

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