Kieran O'Neill Derby Day rides blog: 'I think he has a great chance'

Kieran O'Neill shares his Derby Day blog with Coral's readers, previewing his four rides on Saturday at Epsom. He also gives his thoughts on the big race.

We will make a call on the day about Cairo’s participation because if the rain gets into the ground, he won’t enjoy the conditions. His best form has come on ‘Good’ ground.

He produced an excellent performance last time at Chester, finishing second behind The Foxes in the Group Two Huxley Stakes. A repeat of that run will have him bang there at the finish. The Foxes is a Group One operator so it really was solid form. I just hope the rain stays away and he gets the ground he enjoys.

He has been running consistently well since the back end of last year, finishing no worse than fourth in his six career starts so far. 

Ruby’s Profit tops the betting for this race, and he ran well behind him at Goodwood on his last start, finishing third. He is 4lb better off than the favourite this time, so if he handles the ground, I think he has a great chance.

He is out of the weights in this race, but he seems to enjoy himself at Epsom, particularly the downhill slope. He was fifth in this race in 2023 at a huge price. Hopefully, the weight can slow down the rest of the field and we can take advantage of just 8st 2lb on our back.

He ran well on the all-weather throughout the winter. He started from a mark of 55 and he is now up 25lb to a rating of 80. His best form has come on the all-weather, and he has yet to transfer that across to grass. He is an outsider in this race, and he will need to take a big step forward on this surface.

It is a wide-open Derby this year, and the ground could prove to be a massive factor. Many of these will be running on ground which is far from ideal for them.

I think the horse that has been underestimated here is Damysus for John and Thady Gosden. I loved his run in the Dante Stakes at York. He finished that race like a step up in distance will suit him. I also think he has a great temperament, which you need to win a Derby. He comes across as a lovely, relaxed colt. It is a great ride for James Doyle to pick up and he is a rider who can handle the big occasion.

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