Duke Of Hazzard

Duke Of Hazzard can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of his run in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom on Derby day. Settled last of the seven runners early on by Frankie Dettori, he travelled well into the home straight, and he made good ground on the inside rail. He ran into a cul de sac, however, at the furlong marker, as can often happen at Epsom. His rider had to check him back and take him around horses, which effectively ended any chance he had of winning. He kept on well enough in finishing fourth to suggest that he had at least a little bit of energy left, and that he would have at least finished close up behind Oh This Is Us and Century Dream if he had enjoyed a clear run at it.

The Coles’ horse is five now, and he didn’t win last year as a four-year-old, but this was a nice step forward from his debut this season in a listed race at Ascot, his second run back after a wind operation. He was beaten in a listed race at York on Friday, but that was a four-horse race which wasn’t run to suit, in which the leader Azano had a long break on his three rivals at the top of the home straight, with Duke Of Hazzard leading the chase. Also, he had been beaten on his only other run at York. He could be under-rated now on the back of that defeat. He goes particularly well at Goodwood, where he has won three races out of five, including the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes and the Group 2 Celebration Mile, both over a mile, and he will be of particular interest if and when he goes back to Goodwood.
Epsom, 5^th June 2021