Epsom:Dandy Nicholls admitted his mob-handed approach in the Investec 'Dash' was not easy on the nerves but it paid off as he collected the valuable sprint for the fourth time in eight years through bottom-weight Indian Trail.
The shortest-priced of the Thirsk trainer’s quartet at 11-1, he came with a dangerous late charge under pint-sized jockey Paul Quinn to short-head the pace-setter Captain Dunne.
“It’s our Derby and I am excited for all of us,” said Nicholls. “It’s hard when you have got four in it to keep everyone happy. I thought Strike Up The Band (who was third) had a good chance but this one ran well here the last day and I was delighted with the draw today as he has so much pace he can shoot them dead.”
Quinn could not remember the last time he had even ridden at the unique course.
“It was a long time ago and I think that’s my first winner here,” he beamed. “It’s a dream to have a winner on Derby Day and luckily Dandy puts me on a few
from time to time.”
The other main supporting event to the Derby was the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
This went to another of the less fashionable members of the weighing room fraternity as Eddie Creighton shone aboard Mick Channon’s Eva’s Request (4-1).
Hot favourite Spacious had every chance turning into the straight but her effort was short-lived and it was Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Alnadana who emerged as the main challenger. But the Aga Khan’s filly would not go past Eva’s Request and was a length down at the line, with Spacious four and a half lengths away in third.
Channon said: “She was always going to come good but sometimes with these fillies you just have to wait with them and I’m glad she’s doing the business this year.
“Her target was always the Windsor Forest (at Royal Ascot) and she’ll go there as long as everything is all right.”
James Fanshawe said of Spacious: “She ran a good race for her first start of the year.
“Johnny (Murtagh) said she didn’t handle the track too well and I am sure she has gone the right way.
“We will see how she comes out of the race but we will look at the Windsor Forest.”
Karl Burke’s team are going from strength-to-strength and Corporal Maddox (14-1) struck for the Yorkshire trainer in the Listed Investec Woodcote Stakes as he caught Walkingonthemoon close home.
“He has always shown a real turn of foot at home and ran green first time out,” said Burke. “He stepped up at Hamilton last time and stepped up again today.
“He fluffed the start and I didn’t expect him to come from so far back.
“The Coventry is only two weeks away, so personally I’d rather wait until the July meeting. I’ll have to chat to the owners.”
Neil Callan aboard Little Perisher got a two-day careless riding ban (June 22nd-23rd)
Epsom brings out the best in River Captain, who added to a victory at the April meeting by coming home five lengths clear in the Investec Sir Clement Freud Memorial Stakes at odds of 16-1.
Trainer Sylvester Kirk said: “I was a bit worried coming here after the way he ran at Newbury last time, otherwise I’d have been keen. I might stick him in
the Britannia at Ascot now.”