Carlton House Can Win Again Despite Defeat In Epsom Derby

It wasn’t to be with the Queen’s horse, Carlton House failing narrowly in his bid to claim a first win in the Epsom Derby for Her Majesty. It has to be said however that he ran a great race and according to his jockey, Ryan Moore, could have easily won the race under different circumstances. As has been well reported, Carlton House sweated up beforehand, was slowly away, hampered at Tattenham Corner and lost his near fore shoe in the final furlong.

As unlucky as Carlton House was, nothing should be taken away from the race winner, Pour Moi, who demonstrated blistering finishing pace to win the race for the first time for legendary French trainer, Andre Fabre. It was the first French winner of the Derby since Empery won the race in 1976.

Pour Moi will now be rested for the summer, before taking on the Group One Prix Niel in September, a good run in that will see him confirmed for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. In fact so impressed were the Bookmakers with his Derby win that they have cut him to 4/1 in the Arc betting. He is co-favourite of alongside last year’s winner, Workforce trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and the Aidan O’Brien trained, So You Think. Fabre has an incredible record in Europe’s richest race, being its most successful trainer by saddling the winner seven times. He believes that Pour Moi is well up to the standard of some of his past winners, such as Rail Link and Hurricane Run so it can be expected that he'll be one of the favourites come Sunday 2nd October.

The Derby of course was preceded with yet another controversy surrounding former champion jockey, Kieren Fallon, who was due to ride the Ballydoyle number one contender, Recital. In the event he was refused the ride on the horse by the High Court who supported an injunction made on behalf of the owners of Native Khan, who claimed Fallon reneged on an earlier decision to ride their horse. In the event, Johnny Murtagh rode Native Khan, and finished fifth one place ahead of Recital who was eventually ridden by Pat Smullen.

Meanwhile, Carlton House, has drifted in the ‘Arc ‘ market from around 10/1 to 12/1 but based on his Derby performance, that price might just represent decent value. Should the Queen's horse run in Paris, then it would certainly present Ryan Moore with a headache as the horse is also trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Moore might even get the option to ride So You Think too, which makes a bet on Moore winning the race for the second successive a year a good one. Carlton House can be backed at 2/1 with Paddy power to win another race this season and with ability not in question, the Royal Family are sure to be seen in the winners enclosure once again in 2011.