Yahoo Sports UK columnist Jim Crowley: Excited for Derby debut

Bet4Causes brand ambassador Jim Crowley has his first ride in the Derby at Epsom this afternoon. Here, in his exclusive Yahoo Sports UK column, he gives us his insight on just how he’ll be feeling…

By Jim Crowley

MY FIRST Derby memory was probably Dancing Brave being beaten by Shahrastani in 1986, but the one I really remember was Willie Carson pumping away on the imperious Nashwan as they romped to victory three years later.

I was transfixed by Carson’s magic again in 1991, as Erhaab weaved his way through and came with a devastating run. While Willie may not consider it one of his best rides, he was still brilliant in my book.

Probably the best ride I ever saw in the Derby was Kieren Fallon aboard the bone idle Kris Kin in 2003. In a field of 20, he had a near coffin draw in stall four and it was fantastic to see him get into the position he wanted.

The Derby is the most historic race in the world and today I’m set to have my first ride in it. Obviously, I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve ridden in all the other Classics and hit the crossbar in two of them, so it is lovely to be riding a horse that I think has a genuinely good chance.

I’m not going to bull-up Algometer (4.30). He’s not flash and he’s not impressive, but he is a guaranteed stayer, he will love the ground and he is tough, as he showed when winning the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood (below, centre).

There are a lot of chinks in the armoury of a few of his rivals and it is a very open race. I can honestly see some big-priced horses in the shake-up.

Though drawn in stall four and much as I would have liked to have been drawn in the middle a bit more, the tactics will be pretty simple: I am on a stayer, so there is no point doing anything silly like dropping him in or out. The plan will be to go forward and sit in a position where he is comfortable. There’s no point trying to force the issue. If he can’t go with them, you have to accept it, but the plan will be to ride him very handy, where he’s happiest.

If my lad doesn’t do it, then Newbury winner Ulysses is very unexposed. Sir Michael Stoute’s runner could go and win by six lengths. If he wins, he could be very impressive.

I don’t fancy either of the first two in the market, Wings Of Desire and Chester Vase winner US Army Ranger. It is interesting that Ryan Moore rides the latter, who looked green on the Roodeye (below, right), so his homework would suggest he is working better than the other Aidan O’Brien Derby contenders.

The Dermot Weld-trained Harzand looks interesting. He did really well to win at Leopardstown on heavy ground last time, scoring very easily in the end. He has a similar profile to Algometer in that he looks more of a St Leger type, but he could easily be in the shake-up, as could one of the O’Brien outsiders, Port Douglas and Idaho.

It is hard to pick one, but there are lot of horses I don’t fancy.

Take a look at the big-race runners and riders.

I have a couple of other rides and Duretto (5.15) would have a very good chance of landing the 1m4f handicap. He was a length and a quarter behind King Bolete at Ascot last time. We were a little bit wrong in the weights and I got caught three wide on him. He will be bang there today and he’s a nice horse. I’m normally quite lucky on Derby Day – I have won this race twice before and also the finale twice.

In that 6f handicap I partner Charles Molson (5.50), who got a bit intimidated at Goodwood last time when Seeking Magic hung right across the track. We dropped back and then got hampered. He’d have an each-way chance.

Today, I will do what I do most days; get there early, have a run round the track and get in a zone. The Derby will be my first ride of the day, but having time to think isn’t going to matter. I’m pretty laid back. Once you get on the horse, you don’t do anything differently. The bigger the race, the cooler you have to be – ice cool like those legends Carson and Fallon.

Perhaps I can take a leaf out of their book and then, with luck, Algometer might be able to write his own piece of history.

Sunday service at Goodwood

Tomorrow (Sunday) I am at Goodwood, always a good day out.

Van Dyke (1.50) has mark of 76 and he runs in a 1m2f maiden. Off such a mark, he’d be liable to bumping into an unexposed horse who might be a bit better. He stays well, but will probably improve for racing.

Persian Breeze (2.20) was rated 84 on the Flat John Gosden and has subsequently gone jumping. Horses who come back to the Flat after having had a couple of years to mature, often enjoy the experience. A bit of time to mature and fill out does them good and Lucy Wadham does really well with those types of horses. Persian Breeze runs off a mark of 75 and it would not be a surprise if she ran a big race in the 1m3f handicap.

Shades Of Silver (3.30) is a good stayer, a consistent horse who likes a bit of cut in the ground and will make a cracking jumper one day. He ran off a mark of 89 last time and he is only 1lb higher than when second to a good horse in Steve Rogers at Kempton. He will be competitive in the 2m handicap.

Czech It Out (4.35) is not a bad little horse of Amanda Perrett’s, but things need to fall right for him in the 7f handicap. I should have won on him at Newbury last year but he did not get a very good ride. He needs cover and producing late, and I did that, but to the extent we ended up not getting a clear run. He could run okay. He’d have an each-way squeak… if he feels like it.

I’m at Brighton (above) and Windsor on Monday. The pick of the rides is Kindly (8.30 Windsor) in the 6f heat for three-year-olds. Trained by Simon Crisford, she has had two starts and won well last week at Chelmsford. I like her. She made the running last time and I’m hoping she will keep progressing and pick up a bit of Black Type down the line.

On Tuesday, Sixties Love (7.50) ran very well last time at Sandown and just blew up under Pat Smullen. I also ride Brittleton (8.20) for Harry Dunlop who ran a bit fresh last time and better can be expected.

Croatia can go a long way

I am a big football fan and thoroughly enjoyed the end of the season, as Arsenal did what they always do, finishing above Spurs. Ryan Moore also supports the Gunners. Our agent, Tony Hind, is a Tottenham fan. So that put a smile on our face for days.

When I have time – and when I am allowed – I will be avidly watching Euro 2016, which starts next week.

Whoever finishes top of Group D would appear to have a magnificent chance of reaching the semis at the very least, so look around for anyone offering each-way terms on the first four places.

To me, Croatia look a big price at around 25/1. I guess you would have to have a saver on Spain, as they are the biggest danger in Group D, but if the Croats do finish top, they should beat the best-placed third team from Group B, E or F. They will then face one of Romania, Switzerland, Albania, Northern Ireland, Poland or Ukraine – and they can win against any of those games.

After that, it’s a straight shoot-out to reach the semis.

As for the top scorer, Mario Mandzukic (above) is way too big at 40s, given that I think the Croats will go a long way.

Gareth Bale and Ibrahimovic will be short prices to finish as top scorers for their countries, but they are nailed-on. Bale takes free-kicks and penalties, while Ibrahimovic, who could be joining West Ham if rumours are true, needs just three more goals to equal Michel Platini as the top goal scorer at Euro finals.

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