BUCKLEY BRINGING A BIG TEAM TO ENGLISH DERBY
Ian Fortune
Pat Buckley may have sidestepped last year’s Star Sports/ TRC English Derby but that certainly won’t be the case this year.
The Cappawhite based handler won the classic back in 2020 with the brilliant Deerjet Sydney and yesterday reported he could have a dozen or more entries in this year’s renewal which gets underway on May 23rd.
At this moment in time, the team currently consists of eleven, including a couple of surprise inclusions, but Buckley confirmed that number could grow in the coming days. The plan is to trial his full team on Wednesday week, May 15th, and then straight into the classic.
Buckley also confirmed that his Boylesports Derby third Bens Teddy, who was last seen taking a tumble in the second round of the Easter Cup, is on target for the classic and will head his team, while his Cesarewitch winner Singalong Dolly is well after a luckless passage in the Shelbourne Open 600 on Saturday and is also Towcester bound.
The exciting duo of Ower Cracker and Coolavanny Otto are also going to be on the boat, while established performers Superfast Gorden and Glengar Martha are also well and ready for the Derby challenge.
Ballinabola Jim is a new arrival into Buckley’s kennel and will also be part of the team, as will his namesake Ballinabola Bill. The much-touted Antigua Hawk has only three races under his belt but he will be part of a two-strong team from the Buckley kennel for owners Nic and Amanda Jeal.
They also own Antigua Forky, who is known by most as the hugely talented Optic Chico. Buckley says he is in good order and could be the type to take to Towcester.
Completing the Buckley team for now is Road Exile. Known more for his exploits over two bends and a sharp four bends, Pat believes he is “fit as fiddle” at present and feels he could be strong enough to get the 500m trip.
It’s certainly a very talented team and it will be intriguing to see how they take to Towcester.