Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:
Top horse-racing tips and the latest news.
WHITE Birch may be the answer when selecting a winner of the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday in what appears to be a wide-open race.
A maximum of fourteen runners will contest this year’s Derby and several of these have enhanced their claims for victory in the world’s most important flat race after performing well in a variety of contests this term.
The Dante Stakes at York is widely regarded at the most important trial for the Derby and in that race White Birch enhanced is claims of victory at Epsom with an eye-catching run to finish a close second to winner The Foxes.
White Birch was slowly away in the extended 10-furlong contest, racing in last place before making headway two furlongs from the finish. He continued to improve his position a furlong out and continued to run on well to finish a neck behind the winner.
Trained in Ireland by John Joseph Murphy, White Birch will be ridden at Epsom by Irish Champion jockey Colin Keane, The selection is priced at 14-1 (William Hill) and looks a great each way bet in the Derby, which the trainer admits is ‘a dream’ to be involved in.
“It’s a lot of people’s dream and it’s our dream,” Murphy said. “We just got lucky, the owners agreed to buy the horse and we’re delighted.
“It’s exciting, absolutely. We’re looking forward to it. It’s huge for us, definitely, we’re excited and apprehensive.”
White Birch was fifth at 80-1 on his debut before securing a wide margin victory at Dundalk. He returned this season with victory in the Group 2 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, before impressing at York.
Murphy continued: “This guy had a run in a maiden at Naas, it was a lovely start, he did it easily in Dundalk and there was no place to go really other than take a step further (in the Ballysax). We were confident going into it that he would run really well.”
“It was very soft in Ireland, we didn’t want to run him again on heavy and we hoped there’d be better ground in York, so that’s what we did.
“We were very happy with how he ran. He was a bit unlucky at the start, he just kind of fly-leapt out of the stalls and lost at least a length. Everything counts at that level.
“It wasn’t the plan to track them all, but he stayed on well and finished the race really strong.”
“We’ve been delighted with him since York, no issues. It looked like he stays, but I don’t think anybody can answer that question.
“We have a lot of undulating gallops and he’s a balanced horse who can travel. Every day you go to war it’s a concern, but he’s a good traveller, which is very important in the Derby.
“He has a great mind, he’s sound and has all the qualities you need in a good horse.”
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