Tale of glory for Chaucer

KEITH McHUGH’s Derby preview

IF THE hype is to be believed, Australia will win tomorrow’s Investec Derby in style.

Top trainer Aidan O’Brien has long proclaimed the colt to be the best thoroughbred he has ever trained - making Australia better than High Chaparral, Rock of Gibraltar, Giants Causeway, Galileo, Camelot and Hawk King, to name but a few. High praise indeed.

But the evidence doesn’t yet match the colt’s reputation - despite a third place in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his only start this season.

By Derby winner Galileo out of an Oaks winner Ouija Board, Australia is bred to relish the step up in distance from a mile to a mile and a half tomorrow. He could win easily and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. But this is a really decent Derby, full of unexposed colts and, with torrential downpours forecast, I can’t recommend you lump on at around 6-4.

I have little doubt that Australia will be the best of these middle-distance colts in due course, but his dam was not at her best on soft ground and he is not particularly well drawn in stall 12.

My choice to beat him, at an each-way price of around 8-1, is stable companion Geoffrey Chaucer, who was given a pretty gormless ride by Joseph O’Brien – Australia’s rider tomorrow – at Leopardstown last time.

The race was won by Ebanoran, but Geoffrey Chaucer was blocked and I suspect the form to be all wrong. The step up to a mile and a half, a great draw in stall seven and the huge aid of Ryan Moore in the saddle all point to a massive run.

I can’t see him finishing out of the first three and select him to outstay Australia, with the unbeaten Western Hymn and stable companion Romsdal hunting them up.

VERDICT

1 Geoffrey Chaucer

2 Australia

3 Western Hymn

Best outsider:

Romsdal