All eyes on the biggest prize of all

The Sheriff Hutton-based jockey takes the mount on Magistretti, trained at Newmarket by Neville Callaghan, and the winner of last month's Tote Dante Stakes at York.

In a race once again dominated in the betting by Irish-trained horses - successful in the last three runnings - Magistretti is at the forefront of the British tilt, carrying the colours of owner Michael Tabor, who last year enjoyed the thrill of winning this most prestigious of Classic races with High Chaparral.

Although he has won a French Derby on Celtic Swing, Darley has had five previous rides in the English version and has yet to finish in the frame. He got closest 12 months ago when he secured fifth place on the Mark Johnston-trained Fight Your Corner.

Magistretti gives him, probably, his best chance yet of hitting the bullseye, trainer Callaghan believing the colt to be superior to Corrupt, who finished unplaced in the 1991 renewal after starting joint favourite.

"This horse is more straightforward and consistent than Corrupt, and if ever I've got a chance of winning a Derby, this is it," said Callaghan.

Darley was impressed with Magistretti's latest winning effort on Knavesmire, where he came late on the scene to beat Tuning Fork. "He needed every yard of the extended ten furlongs that day, and the mile-and-a-half at Epsom should be ideal for him," he said.

The last Dante winner to go on to triumph in the Derby was Benny the Dip in 1997, but several winners of York's famous Classic trial have finished in the money at Epsom, most recently Moon Ballad, who filled third place last year.

Magistretti is priced at around 16-1 in a race in which the first four in the betting - Brian Boru, Refuse to Bend, Alamshar and Alberto Giacometti - are all trained in Ireland.

Sir Michael Stoute and Kieren Fallon, both of whom started their racing careers in Ryedale, will be represented by Kris Kin, who earned his place in the line-up following a surprise victory at Chester last month.

Kris Kin was not in the original list of entries for the Derby, but was supplemented earlier this week. The cost of entering by the side door at that late stage? A cool £90,000. Just as well, perhaps, that he belongs to a wealthy Arab owner!

It's a big weekend for Darley, who has been booting home winners galore recently. He will also be competing in the Vodafone Oaks on Friday, having been booked by champion trainer Aidan O'Brien to partner L'Ancresse, a stablemate of the favourite Yesterday, who will ridden by O'Brien's number one jockey Mick Kinane.

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No Ryedale runners in either of the Epsom Classics, or the Coronation Cup for that matter, with Bollin Eric keeping his powder dry until the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. But there will be no lack of local representatives in the supporting races.

On Friday, Danelor will be out to emulate his stable-companion Vintage Premium, a winner at the meeting 12 months ago.

A good second to Lingo on this course last month, Richard Fahey's talented gelding is expected to run a big race.

Everest is currently scaling lofty heights after two recent wins and Brian Ellison's back-to-form charge is also worth noting.

On Saturday, Fahey's Lady Bear is worthy of attention (especially if the ground comes up on the easy side) in the Diomed Stakes, along with Tim Easterby's My American Beauty in the Vodafone Handicap.

As for the Vodafone Dash, run over the fastest five-furlong course in the country, local interest centres on John Wainwright's Vita Spericolata and, even more so, Bishop's Court, twice a previous winner of this race, who carries the colours of owner-breeder David Brotherton from Whitwell-on-the-Hill.

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The Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot is the target for Ryedale sprinter Fayr Jag, who bounced back to winning form at Pontefract on Sunday.

The Tim Easterby-trained gelding overcame top weight and a wide draw to win the William Hill Rated Handicap in the hands of Willie Supple - and book his Royal Ascot ticket.

"It's the Wokingham next for him," said Easterby, who trains Fayr Jag for long-standing patron Jonathan Gill.

Fayr Jag completed a lucrative 24 hours for Easterby, who was also successful with Dazzling Bay in the £40,000 Coral Sprint at Newmarket.

A whirlwind finish from the three-year-old, ridden by John Egan, enabled him to open his seasonal account at only the second time of asking and pick up a sizeable prize in the process.

Dazzling Bay is now likely to head to York on Saturday week to bid for another giant payday in the William Hill Sprint Trophy, won last year by his stablemate Artie.

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So close, but so far. That described Ryedale's challenge in Windsor's feature race last Saturday when Beyond the Clouds and Henry Hall occupied the minor placings behind all-the-way winner Dubaian Gift in the £50,000 Gala Casinos Handicap.

Beyond the Clouds, winner of the corresponding race two years ago, setting a course-record time which still stands, failed by just a neck to complete an outstanding double for his trainer John Wainwright. And, just half-a-length back in third was Nigel Tinkler's evergreen sprinter Henry Hall.

Both horses deserve to find rich compensation for their gallant efforts.

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Kevin Darley has called for non-slip cushioned flooring to be installed in parade rings at all racecourses, following an incident at Ayr last weekend which left star local rider Paul Hanagan on the sidelines.

The Ryedale jockey was taken to hospital, cut, bruised and suffering from slight concussion after taking a heavy fall from the unraced Garnock Venture before the opening race. Hanagan, who had just mounted the Alan Berry-trained two-year-old, was unseated when the colt plunged across the parade ring, depositing last year's champion apprentice half on the grass and half on the tarmac walkway around the perimeter.

Helped away, Hanagan was taken to Ayr General Hospital for precautionary X-rays, but was allowed home that evening, with a statutory three-day break ordered by the course doctor to allow for his concussion.

Darley felt the incident was another reminder that all courses should take measures to have safe walkways in parade rings. "Safety is paramount," he said. "If horses misbehave or slip and jockeys land on concrete or tarmac, there's no give at all. Every racecourse in the country now should have non-slip cushion floor as a standard surface in the paddock."

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Fantasy Believer, one of three Kevin Darley-ridden winners at Ayr last Friday, was hardly winning out of turn.

A five-time winner in 2001, the John Quinn-trained sprinter paid the price for that purple patch at the hands of the handicapper last season and consquently failed to win a single race. Happily, he ended his 19-month drought at Ayr with a battling display to gain a short-head verdict and continue his trainer's excellent campaign.

Quinn followed up at Pontefract on Sunday with the promising Prince Tara, who opened his account with a gritty neck success over Neville Bycroft's Fitzwarren.

Also on the mark at Pontefract was James Hetherton, who produced Swynford Pleasure to gain a 15-2 success in the 12-furlong handicap. Dale Gibson's mount, owned by Peter Bottomley's Qualitair Holdings, prevailed by a length from Sono, whose 33-1 effort left the impression that it is only a matter of time before this German recruit scores for Barton-le-Street trainer Peter Niven.

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Top Dirham, trained by Mick Easterby for Ryedale owner Steve Hull, pulled off a real old-fashioned gamble at Thirsk on Monday night. Backed down at all rates from 12-1, the five-year-old was sent off the 4-1 favourite before bounding home two lengths clear under Dale Gibson.

"He's only just come right," said Easterby, who purchased Top Dirham out of Sir Michael Stoute's stable when he was rated in the 90s. Now down to a mark of 65, the gelding will probably be aimed next at the Carlisle Bell later this month.

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Blenheim Terrace made light of his veteran status at Catterick last Saturday when scoring for Thorton-le-Clay trainer Bill Tinning.

Partnered by John McAuley, the ten-year-old streaked home with two-and-a-half lengths to spare at odds of 16-1. Nigel Tinkler and John Wainwright were other local trainers to produce generously-priced scorers at Carlisle on Monday; Tinkler with 25-1 shot Henry Windsor and Wainwright, courtesy of Rock Concert, who obliged at 10-1.

On the riding front, the man in form at Musselburgh on Saturday was Malton jockey Dean Mernagh, who completed a 47-1 double on Thornaby Green and Mr Lear, both trained near Thirsk by David Barron.

Updated: 13:39 Wednesday, June 04, 2003