Just one cruel step

By Alan Conway

Just one cruel step. That’s all it took for Carlton House to maybe scupper his chances of landing the 2011 Investec Derby this Saturday. It just shows how fine the margins between success and failure are.

The connections of the horse will no doubt be hoping that he recovers from his setback but even allowing for that he has to be rated as a very weak favourite for the Derby and should he line up on Saturday it would take a brave person to back him considering his interrupted preparation.

Looking away from Carlton House the two horses that have been backed in recent days are the Coolmore owned pair of Pour Moi and Recital. Pour Moi, who won his trial in France with relative ease, impressed a host of people when he drew right away from his work companion during the “breakfast with the stars” at Epsom last week.

The fact that Andre Fabre, France’s perennial champion trainer, came all the way to Epsom to watch the work was something in itself. He rates Pour Moi as his best chance to win the Derby and the son of Montjeu looks to have all the necessary tools of a Derby winner.

The one concern is that he has never raced outside his native France before. He was also a little buzzed up in the parade ring before his work and he will have to handle all the outside distractions of the pre-race if he is to stand any chance of taking the Derby back to France.

The other horse to attract money in recent days is the Aidan O’Brien trained Recital. Already a Group 1 winner, Recital has taken the tried and tested route of the Ballysax and Derrinstown Stud Derby trial races that O’Brien always favours with his main Derby contenders.

Although he failed to fire in the Ballysax, Recital got back to winning ways in the Derrinstown where he was ridden by Kieren Fallon despite still looking somewhat of an awkward ride. It is a huge sign of the regard that Fallon has for the horse that he gave up a paid retainer from the connections of Native Khan to ride Recital at Epsom.

The key to his chances at Epsom will be if Fallon can time his run on Recital to perfection. He travels well in his races and does have a good turn of foot. The one thing that he does though is pull himself up when he hits the front.

If he hits the front too early on Saturday then he will be cooked. But if Fallon can bury him and smuggle him into the race and produce him with one, clear and powerful run, then he may have too much for the rest of the field.

With Carlton House’s participation hanging by a thread the 2011 Investec Derby looks even more wide open that usual. Of the non Coolmore horses the one that could cause an upset could be Native Khan. Despite been rejected by Kieren Fallon Native Khan will have the help of the triple Derby winning jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Despite not having a glamorous profile like the other Derby contenders Native Khan has won a Craven Stakes and been placed in the 2000 Guineas behind Frankel. Considering the lack of depth in this year’s field he could be the one to spring a surprise come 4.00pm on Saturday.

By Alan Conway