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Crowded House Cleared For 09 Epsom Derby - 06-04-09
June 4 - If this year's Kentucky Derby in the U.S. taught horseracing fans anything, it's that anything can happen (50-1 longshot Mine That Bird won by 6 lengths), which is why despite being laden with Irish contenders, a late entry and outsider like Crowded House could win Saturday's 2009 Epsom Derby.
The prestigious turf race, which is the highlight of the British flat horseracing calendar, is expected to attract thousands of punters from far and wide to Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, England. As such, the pressure is on for Brian Meehan, the trainer of Crowded House, a colt with much potential.
After passing a last minute fitness test, Crowded House - who is owned by Paul Reddam, Peter Burrell and Jonathan Harvey - should go into the race fairly well backed, based on his impressive victory in last October's Racing Post Trophy. However, his poor run in the recent Dante Stakes could be a worry.
In his first race of the year, Crowded House was expected to make his mark in the 1 mile 2f 88y Dante Stakes (Gr 2) at York Racecourse last month, but struggled throughout the race, finishing four lengths behind winner, Black Bear Island. However, according to Meehan those issues have now been resolved.
'We're very happy with Crowded House,' Meehan told reporters on Wednesday. 'He's very fit and very well and I really think we've got over the hiccup we had around York time with him even though we missed a week. It hasn't lowered our expectations of him as we've still got enormous plans for him.'
The trainer was referring to the fact that the colt was forced to spend a week on the 'easy list' following his strenuous run in the Dante Stakes, which reportedly left him scoping pretty badly after the race. Since then the colt seems fully recovered, which was confirmed when he was given a gallop on Monday.
Said co-owner Paul Reddam, who flew in from the U.S. for the race, 'I've never even been to Epsom on Derby day, but we're very excited about it and have been since last October. It seemed that everything at York which could go wrong did go wrong. However, it sounds like Crowded is back on track.'
Here are the latest Epsom Derby odds offered by top online sportsbook Betfair:
Sea The Stars - 3
Fame And Glory - 3
Rip Van Winkle - 9/2
Gan Amhras - 7
Black Bear Island - 6
Masterofthehorse - 14
Crowded House - 25
Age Of Aquarius - 16
Kite Wood - 25
Golden Sword - 25
Montaff - 50
South Easter - 33
Debussy - 50
Other Articles:
New CEO for Youbet - 06-08-09Top Kiwi Jockey Suspended on Drug Charges - 06-07-09Manhattan Handicap Picks and Betting Preview - 06-06-09Mine That Bird Favorite for 2009 Belmont Stakes - 06-05-09Sariska Betfair Favorite in Epsom Oaks - 06-03-09Vincent O'Brien Dies Aged 92 - 06-02-09Rachel Alexander Will Not Run in Belmont Stakes - 06-01-09Irish Runners Rated For 2009 Epsom Derby - 05-31-09
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| | 2009/11/20 11:35:16 AM |
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