Richard Dunwoody - Winning Tips From a CHAMPION

By Richard Dunwoody

IT is a great shame that St Nicholas Abbey will miss the Derby but the stable still has a great chance of landing the Classic, a prize that has eluded them since 2002. A total of 34 runners have been saddled by O’Brien since High Chaparral scored.

The money continues to pour in for Jan Vermeer, who won a 10f Group 3 contest at the Curragh last Sunday week.  He won in style, although the

Has Fortuni spot on for today's 16:45 at Epsom Sir Mark Prescott

bunch he beat may, or may not be, all that good. He is also tackling the Derby just two weeks after his seasonal debut. That is a rushed preparation and I’d not be in a hurry to take 2.75 about him.

I was impressed with the way Midas Touch won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. He was given a very educational ride.  The time of the four-runner affair was very good and I find it hard to see how he will be out of the first three.

The same sentiments apply to Henry Cecil’s Lingfield Derby Trial winner BULLET TRAIN (Epsom 16:00), who is a general 8.0 chance.  He’ll stay, he should handle the track and he’s improving. He’s also been trained with the Derby in mind, has had an uninterrupted preparation and he’s in the hands of a master trainer and a good jockey in Tom Queally.

Bullet Train will do for me.

The opener on Derby day is a competitive heat but it presents a big chance for VERDANT (Epsom, 13:40) to redeem himself. Sir Michael Stoute's Singspiel colt didn't have his last race run to suit and consequently he failed to trouble the leaders. Judged by the way he landed a hot Sandown handicap the run before, he is better than he demonstrated at Newbury and with more positive tactics today, can put his career back on track.

Sir Mark Prescott has suddenly hit a rich vein of form and FORTUNI (Epsom, 16:45) can benefit from some of that that in the 1m 4f handicap. The four-year-old looked a progressive horse last year and whilst the Derby entry he had has come to nothing, he is still well regarded and should be spot on for today's race.  His 2010 debut three-weeks ago at York was dismal but he needed the run and failed to settle.  He is expected to be a different proposition on Saturday.

Richard's selections:

16:00 Epsom 1 point e/w 1/5 1,2,3  Bullet Train at SP

13:40 Epsom 1 point win Verdant at SP

16:45 Epsom 0.5pt e/w 1/4 1,2,3,4 Fortuni at SP


About Richard Dunwoody

One of the greatest jockey’s in British racing history, Richard Dunwoody broke the previous record for the greatest number of career wins for a jump jockey of 1678 when Yorkshire Edition won at Wincanton. Richard went on to ride a career total of 1699 winners. That mark was finally beaten by Tony McCoy in August 2002. As an amateur jockey, he rode his first winner on Game Trust at Cheltenham in May 1983, and the following spring rode a four-timer at Hereford as a 7lb claimer. He was champion jockey for three seasons and is one of only four post war jockeys to have captured the illusive triple crown of the Gold Cup (Charter Party 1986), the Champion Hurdle (Kribensis 1990) and the Grand National (West Tip 1986 and Minnehoma 1994). Richard also rode more than 100 winners in ten consecutive seasons.  His best season saw him ride 197 winners in 1993/94. Yet, to most, he is most well known for his partnership with the iconic Desert Orchid. The pair won seven races, including the King George V1 Chase in 1989 and 1990.

Richard has undertaken various expeditions since hanging up his boots, including a 350-mile cross-country ski race to the Magnetic North Pole and in January this year completed an amazing 673 mile trek to the South Pole, something he considers his greatest ever achievement.

He joined the BBC racing team at Aintree this year, writes a column for the Daily Mirror pull-out section on Saturdays and is a consultant to the British Racing School at Newmarket, where he coaches young and up-and-coming jockeys.

Richard Dunwoody also runs his own highly successful racing service. Recent winners include Pro Pell 11/2, Day Of The Eagle 10/3, Boogie Waltzer 10/3, Mostly Bob 3/1, Aviate 11/4, Shalamiyr 2/1, Kajima 15/8, Feathered Crown 15/8, Penang Cinta 15/8