ALL signs point to Epsom this weekend and although Ryedale does not have a Derby runner this year, a North Yorkshire horse who booked his Classic ticket on Knavesmire earlier this month, will carry the hopes of the area as he bids to re-write history.

Not since Dante, trained by Matt Peacock and ridden by Billy Nevett, in 1945, has a northern horse won the Derby. Come Saturday and Libertarian, likewise trained in Middleham, will not be short of northern support as he represents the Spigot Lodge team of Elaine and Karl Burke.

Unraced last year, Libertarian made a winning debut at Pontefract last month, suffered trouble in running and a defeat at Lingfield next time but came bouncing back better than ever at York in the Betfred Dante Stakes when coming from last to first to score at 25-1.

The Investec Derby is, of course, another huge step up but ‘Team Burke’ are more than hopeful that Libertarian can run a big race in the premier Classic, for which he is generally priced at 16-1.

“He’s still learning, still green, and Epsom is a difficult course, so he’ll need to be on his mettle,” says Karl Burke. “But we’ve always thought a lot of him and he’s come a long way in a short time.

“Dawn Approach (the unbeaten favourite, and winner of the 2,000 Guineas) is a superb horse, trained by a genius (Jim Bolger). But he has more questions to answer than our horse stepping up to a mile and a half. The one thing Libertarian will do is stay; he’s crying out for the extra distance. And although lots of people said it was a bad Dante, the runner-up Trading Leather has been placed in a Classic, so it can’t have been that bad. Our horse is in great form. We couldn’t be happier with him.”

 

• CAPTAIN DUNNE, a previous course and distance winner, goes for his second success in the thrilling Investec Dash at Epsom on Derby Day.

The Tim Easterby-trained speedster, now an eight-year-old, ran a fine first race of the season to finish second at Chester this month. That outing should have put him spot-on for this furious five-furlong sprint on the fastest track in Europe and give him every chance of repeating his victory in the ‘Dash’ in 2011.

Captain Dunne is likely to be joined in his assault by Confessional, who has run well in this race in the past, while David O’Meara may well saddle Smoothtalkinrascal, a winner at York a fortnight ago.

O’Meara has several entries throughout the two days of the Epsom meeting, among them Toto Skyllachy, winner of his last two races at Beverley, and the much-celebrated Penitent, winner of two Group 2 races last year.

Penitent holds an entry in the Investec Diomed Stakes on Friday, which is also the target of Richard Fahey’s Gabrial, successful in Listed company at Doncaster before coming up marginally short when stepped up in distance and to Group 3 level at Chester.

Fahey, who sent out Mickdaam to finish sixth in last year’s Derby, is set to have a number of Epsom runners, including Lady’s First, who goes for Group 3 glory in Friday’s Princess Elizabeth Stakes after her excellent placed effort at York, and Warwick winner Neighbother, who runs in the Woodcote Stakes on Derby Day.

 

• A RYEDALE apprentice has paid a hefty price for making a major error of judgement which denied his mount from winning.

David Bergin has been handed a 28-day suspension, which will keep him out of action for much of next month, after mistaking the winning post at Haydock last Saturday on Classic Colori, trained by his Nawton boss, David O’Meara, who was beaten in a photo-finish.

Ironically, Bergin rode an admirable race on the gelding for 90 per cent of the one-mile event. Having made his ground from the rear of the 11-strong field approaching the final quarter-mile, Bergin drove him to the front just inside the final furlong.

But then he dropped his whip and mistook the half-furlong marker for the winning post and eased off.

It was enough of a window of opportunity for fellow apprentice Robert Tart, who was just behind him on Albaqaa to seize the advantage and although Bergin realised his error and rallied his mount in the dying strides, Classic Colori, a 10-1 chance, was a head down at the line.

The stewards banned the 5lb claimer, who joined O’Meara from Ireland last summer, and who has since created a very favourable impression, from June 8 to July 5.

Simon Cowley, the stewards’ secretary, said; “He was suspended for failing to ride out in the closing stages on a horse who would otherwise have won.”

Bergin was mortified by his mistake. “I thought the half-furlong marker was the winning post,” he explained. “But that was no excuse.”

 

• PLENTY of patience and skill has been needed to cure Jubilee Dancer of her aversion to starting stalls, but the Geoff Oldroyd-trained filly came good at Redcar on Monday when gaining her first win in a photo-finish under Russ Kennemore.

Although she showed promise in two outings last season, Jubilee Dancer refused to enter the stalls before her third intended start at Thirsk and then failed her stalls test (allowing her to resume her career) at Wolverhampton.

Happily, she consented to behave herself at Thirsk when tested again earlier this month and the fruits of the Oldroyd team’s labours were rewarded with this week’s Redcar triumph.

“She hasn’t been easy, but we’ve started using a hood on her and also using a pressure halter to lead her in, and they seemed to have done the trick,” said Brawby-based Oldroyd. “She’s a filly we’ve always thought a bit about and we quite fancied her at Redcar – provided she went into the stalls!”

The Redcar meeting also proved a happy hunting ground for Norton jockey Jimmy Sullivan, successful on outsider Sandsman’s Girl for James Given, while Kevin Stott, a promising apprentice with Kevin Ryan, was seen to good effect on Edwin Tuer’s Sally Friday.

At the corresponding Carlisle meeting, Ryedale jockeys Tom Eaves (Smalljohn) and Tony Hamilton (Cosmic Sun) were on the mark, as were Duran Fentiman (Lilac Lace) and Paul Pickard (Pacific Heights).

Lilac Lace, trained by Tim Easterby, and the winner of Carlisle’s feature race, has not taken a backwards step this season. She has now completed a hat-trick after previous wins at Redcar and Thirsk, while Pacific Heights was continuing a tremendous run for Brian Ellison.

The Norton trainer had two Goodwood winners last week, courtesy of Palazzo Bianco and Mon Brav, while Dolphin Rock likewise added to the scoresheet under a cracking ride from Dale Swift at Chester.

 

• JAMIE HAMILTON, hero of the Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase last month on 100-1 shot Tartan Snow, is making stealthy progress in the amateur rider ranks.

Not only is he attracting rides from a whole host of trainers, he is making the most of his increased opportunities. Last Friday at Musselburgh, the Malton-based teenager won on the Flat on Goodlukin Lucy, trained by Dianne Sayer, while at Cartmel’s Bank Holiday meeting on Monday, he captured the long-distance chase, confined to veteran horses, on Posh Bird, trained by Peter Niven.

 

• HATS off to Ryedale trainer Alan Brown, who has won four races in the space of three weeks with a horse who had not previously won since 2009!

Jebel Tara has scored three times at Musselburgh (including last weekend) and once at Southwell during his purple patch when he has been partnered by a quartet of local riders, Dale Swift, Tom Eaves, Tony Hamilton and, most recently, Paul Pickard.

Who’s to say Brown cannot find further winning opportunities for the rejuvenated Jebel Tara before the handicapper catches up with him?

 

• RUSS GARRITTY, still attached to the Tim Easterby stable, rode numerous winners at Haydock during his career as a Ryedale jockey and last week, his teenage son Jack came close to landing his first career success on the same course.

Garritty jnr, who joined Berkshire trainer Andrew Balding at Kingsclere late last summer, finished second on 14-1 shot Breakheart for his boss, beaten only two lengths and showed plenty of style and promise on only his second mount in a race.

It shouldn’t be long before young Garritty tastes success and the same applies to fellow teenager Cameron Hardie, son of Willie Hardie, head lad to Tim Easterby, who has likewise had two rides in this his first season and finished third on the second of them at Newbury.

Hardie jnr, who gained some valuable experience riding in pony races when living at home, is now attached to the powerful Richard Hannon stable in Wiltshire.

On the subject of young riders, Tom Midgley is also worthy of note. The son of Westow trainer Paul Midgley, a former jump jockey, rode in his first pony race last Sunday and enjoyed a wide margin win.