Tennessee Stud: Dark horse for Epsom Derby glory Excitement is building for the Derby Festival at Epsom and it kicks off on Friday, but the main event, the Derby itself, is on Saturday. There are 20 horses entered at the moment and one of the Irish raiders looks interesting at a substantial price. Joseph O’Brien could run Tennessee Stud, who won a Group 1 over 1m2f as a juvenile, so he should be suited by the step up to 1m4f at three. Here we take a look at his profile and consider if he can make a splash in Flat racing’s most famous event. Midnite Betting Offer If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos Pedigree gives mixed signals Wootton Bassett is yet to sire a Derby winner, but that looks set to change within the next couple of years, as he has been producing some excellent horses in recent seasons. Tennessee Stud will be his only chance to do so this year and he might have been unfairly overlooked. His dam was pretty average in two starts on the racecourse herself, but it’s the fact that she’s a half-sister to Rock Of Gibraltar that gives her value as a broodmare. He has 11 half-siblings, four of which have won, over distances varying from 5f to 1m2f. Usually the fact that none of his siblings have won over 1m4f would be a cause for concern but the fact that he won over 1m2f as a two-year-old suggests it won’t be a problem. Immediate promise shown at two O’Brien’s colt finished third behind subsequent Lingfield Derby Trial winner Puppet Master over an extended mile on debut at Galway. The step up to 1m1f made a big difference as he easily got the better of the useful Shackleton when winning at Tipperary next time. A step up in grade then beckoned and he contested the Group 2 Beresford Stakes over a mile at the Curragh next time. That form looks absolutely rock-solid, as the winner Hotazhell went on to win the Futurity Trophy and Chester Vase victor Lambourn finished last. Tennessee Stud stuck to his task well to finish second by less than a length and it was a very promising display. Group 1 glory Connections decided to head to France for his final run of the season and the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud over 1m2f was the ideal target. It’s worth noting that he only faced two rivals and neither were strong opposition but he saw the trip out well on heavy ground to score by a length-and-a-half. 1m4f on better ground will be no issue for the three-year-old on that evidence and it’s likely to facilitate a significant amount of improvement. He looked in need of the run when a well beaten third behind Delacroix on seasonal debut and he’s likely to step forward significantly. Next stop, Epsom? Joseph O’Brien won the Derby aboard Australia as a jockey and will undoubtedly be very keen to add it to his CV as a trainer. This horse is his only possible representative in 2025 and he may have flown under the radar somewhat. He has plenty to prove after a below-par display on seasonal debut but he’s almost certainly better than that and we should see a much sharper horse this time around. His two-year-old form gives him a solid each-way chance, although it does look like a strong race. Delacroix heads the market currently, deservedly so, and 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court is next on the list. Winter ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter is easy to back after a significant drift recently and Dante winner Pride Of Arras can’t be discounted.
