Frankie: A nasty fall won’t stop my bid for Derby glory at Epsom

I slipped after winning at Leicester on Tuesday but despite a few bumps and bruises I’m raring to go for Epsom.

I’ve got a slightly sore elbow but there’s no lasting damage and I’m not going to let a fall derail my bid for more Classic glory.

Everyone wants to be involved in the richest and most prestigious race run in Britain and of course I’m no different. It would take a lot more to stop me from turning up!

Architecture has designs on Classic glory in open renewal

I ride Architecture for Hugo Palmer in the Oaks on Friday and she’s got a good chance in what is a very wide open renewal of the race.

The message in this race is simple: beat Aidan O’Brien and you’ve won! This will be difficult though as he’s got almost half the field including some top quality fillies. Our preparation has been slightly disappointing, but we’ve still got a chance if the race falls in our favour.

I’ve been busy assessing the challengers to Wings of Desire

I’ve got a good favourite’s chance in the Derby and the forecast rain doesn’t do us any harm. He’ll definitely stay, and being out of Pivotal, any cut in the ground would be OK too.

As per the Oaks though, it’s an incredibly wide-open Derby but I have managed to narrow down the threats to four. These are the horses I’m most scared of:

Moonlight Magic – won well in Ireland and trained by the master, Jim Bolger.

Cloth of Stars – he’s got the Fabre factor and he looked to be in incredible condition at Breakfast with the Stars.

Deauville – we just beat him in the Dante and he doesn’t have much to find.

Ulysees – all of Newmarket is talking about this horse but he lacks experience, which you could say about quite a few of the other runners.

Make no mistake, the Derby is the ultimate test of a racehorse and it challenges them in every way.

It tests stamina, balance, everything. Winning the Derby is no fluke, only the best will come through it.

Hopefully that’ll be the case with my horse this Saturday. It’s going to be another incredible renewal, you can be sure of that.

Good luck!

Frankie.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.