Duke of Firenze solid each-way

I am updating early on Friday because I am involved at Goodwood this evening after the Oaks. I mentioned Titus Secret’s disappointing third when writing earlier in the week and he does not turn out again in the one of the sprint handicaps at Bath on Friday evening. I am happy enough that he has a short break but I believe stable-companion BABYFACT will go close on that Bath card (6.50)

I have no strong thoughts about the Derby and judging from the market I am in the clear majority. Best Solution put up arguably the best trial performance (at Lingfield) but it will be rare indeed for a horse making its tenth appearance to win a Derby, while Kodiac generally gets speed horses. We shall see.

DUKE OF FIRENZE has won the “Dash” before and I can see him threading his way through again from stall 12. He is a remarkable horse and produced one of his very best efforts at York last time to win off a mark 13lb higher than the previous year in the 5f sprint handicap. There are many dangers, including dual winner Caspian Prince, though stall 1 was not what Tony Coyle wanted. Amomentofmadness is drawn low as well; interestingly, he came out of a fairly valuable sprint at Chelmsford on Thursday evening to wait for this.

I rather liked Mick Channon’s inconsistent Lincoln in the last on Derby day but he relies on Scrutineer, who can be fancied on some of his best form and Silvestre de Sousa is an excellent booking. The other one to take the eye is Richard Fahey’s Paddy Power, who did us a good turn the other day. He will have a featherweight when Connor Murtagh claims.