The Investec Derby 2014

In order to try to put this winter behind us, I have put together a brief guide to the early contenders in the market.

However, I would remind everyone, that bad weather is not just confined to winter, as you will see, the 1839 Derby, run on May 15th, was run in the severest snowstorm of the year and won by Bloomsbury (rails), a 25-1 longshot.

The runner-up, Deception, turned out again two days later to win the Oaks.

From the list that follows you will see that Aidan O’Brien has four contenders, most notably Australia, a colt by the 2001 Derby winner, Galileo, out of Lord Derby’s 2004 Oaks winner, Ouija Board – it would be hard to find a more suitable pedigree.

Free Eagle is by the 2002 Derby winner, High Chaparral  and Geoffrey Chaucer by Montjeu (now deceased), who previously sired four Epsom Derby winners in eight years.

I hope that in studying the list, summer will seem a little nearer – good luck!