IT’S ABOUT TIME the boys from monopolies and mergers had a gander at Aidan O’Brien.
The Ballydoyle giant pinched both Newmarket Classics and cast a fair old shadow over Chester this week where Sir Dragonet (9-1 to 13-2) won by the length of Southport Pier.
He’s nipped in the side door to be Derby jolly, but they went a stride too quick through the first half of the race and there’s no doubt this lumpy unit loved dipping his toe in the sloppy ground.
I’m also told someone right at the heart of the O’Brien camp feels there are two or three better Derby prospects in the yard.
If that’s kosher the 9-2 currently on offer doesn’t look much of a bargain.
Monsoon conditions meant the fake tan ran faster than Danny Baker’s employers at Chester’s always lively ladies’ day.
That did not matter a jot to owner Craig Buckingham and his pals who landed a monster touch with Lincoln Park (20-1 to 7-2).
Sharp as a tack Silvestre De Sousa was never going to be captured after hitting the gates running on this one and I hear connections needed Securicor to get the winnings back to base.
Middleham Park’s smart two-year-old Ventura Rebel looked a bit useful when winning at Ascot last week and is scheduled to head back there for the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal Meeting.
Mind you, his owners are always happy to cash-in so there’s probably more chance of little Archie Windsor wearing a Poundland Babygro than this colt staying in their colours.
We’ve had enough trials to keep Judge Judy busy for a month and there are a couple more at Lingfield today, where a top bloke called Mac looks after the jockeys’ room.
He’s a larger than life character with a voice like Barry White after a good night out.
Now Mac does love a good dollop of sunshine and spends as much time as possible in Barbados where he’s become a bit of a local celeb.
A while back he was over there having a quiet early afternoon slurp in a plush bar when he bumped into none other than Ready, Steady Cook king Ainsley Harriott.
One thing led to another and before long the pair had knocked a hole in a bottle of rum and didn’t know whether they were green peppers or red tomatoes.
Mac did an involuntary break dancing routine as he exited the gaff and completed a couple of tumble turns before whacking his bonce on the deck.
Enough claret flowed to keep France going for the summer and, insult to injury, Mac’s missus sent him to Coventry as she had just banned him from lunchtime drinking!
Kieren Fallon was cooler than Clooney in the saddle but he didn’t hold back when roaring his son Cieren home to a double at Windsor on Monday.
This kid looks the real deal and did a cracking job on Mick Attwater’s Real Estate who hung every which way but loose before nicking the apprentice sprint.
But when it comes to bellowing one home nobody has a pair of lungs to match all-round good egg John Gallagher.
Rain or shine, John’s always chipper and it was lovely to see him land a touch with Tomahawk Ridge (6-1 to 4-1), even if punters in his immediate vicinity did suffer GBH of the eardrums.
By the way, genial John’s expecting a bold show from stable star Green Power in the Victoria Cup (4.00) at Ascot today.
SETTING SAIL (2.15 Ascot) is unexposed and looked a class act when trotting-up last time.
Ryan Moore told him to move this big boy up to 7f after he ran a blinder last time and he must have an each-way shout at a working man’s price.
ALHAKMAH (4.50) should be good enough to open her account at Lingfield, while WAIT FOR ME (2.00) looks best of the jumpers up at Haydock.
Pick of the bets at Ascot could be Charlie Appleby’s SETTING SAIL (2.15).
He didn’t have to take his jacket off to win at Wolvs last time and could be a cut above these.
