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Ocovango takes test spin around Epsom
"The idea today was to show him the bend and go downhill. It was not a serious workout but he was moving well and it was very useful to come here for the horse and jockey. "It was really important to come also because it is very quiet in French racing but it will be a lot more hectic here next week. "It is difficult to assess Ocovango's form, but he is a Derby horse. He has a very good balance and cruising speed. He'll have one day of rest after today and then just do regular canters ahead of the race. "There is a slight doubt about him staying because there is a lot of speed on his dam's side, but his sire Monsun is a very strong staying influence so I think he should be OK. He goes on any ground. The race is all about Dawn Approach if he stays, but everyone has a chance for places. "Although Pierre-Charles is young, he has been around all the courses in France and is very experienced." Karl Burke, whose wife Elaine trains Dante winner Libertarian, believes the New Approach colt has a realistic chance of reaching the frame. "He's come out of the Dante as well as could be hoped," Burke said. "He lost seven kilos at York but has put that on quickly and we're very happy with him. The Derby meeting has been lucky for us, I think we've had seven or eight winners over the years, but I don't think I've had an entry in the Derby, let alone a runner. "It has created a buzz in the yard but we're not doing anything differently. He'll have another blow on Tuesday next week and that will be it. "Like a lot of people, I think we'd like the race to be a bit later on as he's not the finished article yet. He's a high-class horse, he's guaranteed to stay the trip and, if handles the track, I can see him running into a place. Then if anything happens to the other horses, who knows?" The rank outsider in this year's Investec Derby is likely to be Ocean Applause, a 500-1 chance with Coral, but both trainer John Ryan and owner Bill McLuskey are keen to take their chance. "We like boxing out of our weights a bit. You have to have a dream and if you don't you wouldn't get up in the morning," Ryan said. "But Bill's had a listed winner here before with an outsider in Ocean's Minstrel (in the 2009 Surrey Stakes). "Everything has gone wrong for us this year. The horses hadn't been well earlier in the season but they are coming back now. This fellow won't disgrace us but whether he is good enough I don't know. "This was our vision when we bought this horse because he was out of a mare (2003 Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner Aldora) that had done well here." "I agree with John," McLuskey added. "He can pick horses well and it's a day we'll probably never get again." The latest Derby betting from Coral, official betting partner of the Derby Festival: 4-5 Dawn Approach; 4-1 Battle of Marengo; 7-1 Ocovango; 8-1 Chopin, Ruler of the World; 14-1 Mars; 16-1 Libertarian, Magician; remainder 20-1 and above. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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