CARLTON HOUSE GETS GREEN LIGHT
BUT KIEREN FALLON STILL SWEATING ON LATE COURT DECISION
Carlton House, the horse bidding to give the Queen her very first Derby winner, was last night finally given the green light to line-up on Epsom Downs this afternoon.
The favourite for the world’s premier horse race has reportedly fully recovered from an injury he picked up to his near-fore that had threatened his participation in today’s race.
Her Majesty’s racing manager John Warren said that after a very difficult week all was now on track. The
Dante Stakes winner picked up the knock in a routine piece of work on Monday, but the small piece of filling that appeared in the joint has now gone.
“He’s done a nice couple of canters and a bit of light work”, added Warren. “I think now the emphasis has moved away from the issue and into the excitement of the event.”
However, while Carlton House looks virtually assured a run this afternoon, the same cannot be said of jockey Kieren Fallon, who is sweating on a court appeal as to whether he can take the ride on second favourite Recital.
Ibrahim Araci, the owner of Native Khan, is attempting to have Fallon banned from riding in the race after the former champion jockey opted to switch from his horse on Monday.
His case is built on the grounds that Fallon supposedly broke a promise to ride his horse and under the terms of a ‘retainer’ agreement shouldn’t be allowed to partner any other.
Lord Justice Jackson and Lord Justice Elias will decide Fallon’s fate at 9am this morning.
The Investec Derby, one of the most eagerly awaited events in the British racing calendar, is due off at 4pm this afternoon and Epsom is expecting crowds on the Downs in excess of 120,000.
Jockey Club Catering, the joint venture between Jockey Club Racecourses and the Compass Group, have prepared 1.5 tonnes of beef, not to mention 10,000 rounds of sandwiches.
15,000 bottles of champagne are on ice, while a further 44,000 pints of beer are ready to be poured.
Carlton House’s presence in the 13-strong field is expected to help dramatically drive up last year’s viewing figures from two million, while the BBC is distributing footage to 140 countries worldwide.
All that means this afternoon’s race will have an estimated worldwide audience in excess of one billion.