Andy Holding previews Epsom Derby implications from the weekend’s 2000 Guineas which underlined Godolphin as the dominant force.
As ever, the 2000 Guineas result sparked many a conversation about what might happen at Epsom in June and a large part of that chat surrounded the performance of Luxembourg with a view to him being a potential Derby winner.
To my eyes, he ran a perfectly respectable race on his first outing for 189 days after slightly missing the break, but would I be in a rush to back him at 5/2 in the aftermath, the answer would unequivocally be no.
"He didn’t really hit the line like he was crying out for"
Firstly, the time figure for the Guineas suggest it wasn't an extreme test for the participants, more of an examination of speed from three out, and secondly, he didn't really hit the line like he was crying out for too much further, let alone 1m4f.
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Combined that with the fact his page - Camelot out of a seven-furlong mare - and he makes limited appeal at his current odds. The result once again suggested Godolphin are currently the dominant force in most categories at present and with the winner likely to go to Royal Ascot for The St James' Palace Stakes and runner-up set to go back to The Curragh for the Irish version, the way is very much paved for NEW LONDON to be their chief representative.
Extremely impressive both visually and on the clock in beating a quality field at Newmarket on his season return, he has a lot of similar qualities to last year's winner, Adayar. Due to go to Chester, a victory there would see him vying for favouritism for the Epsom Classic and at his current odds of 6/1 (9/1 yesterday), he therefore makes plenty of appeal.
| Horse | Best Price | Worst Price |
|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg | 5/2 | 2/1 |
| New London | 6/1 | 5/1 |
| Reach For The Moon | 9/1 | 7/1 |
| Walk Of Stars | 14/1 | 10/1 |
| Piz Badile | 16/1 | 12/1 |
| Point Lonsdale | 18/1 | 15/2 |
| Native Trail | 20/1 | 10/1 |
| Coroebus | 20/1 | 10/1 |
