Win, lose or draw in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York on Saturday, Ed Dunlop has confirmed that one-time Derby hope John Leeper will race again next season.
Derby punters heads on Bolshoi Ballet, hearts with John Leeper
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05/06/2021 - 11:30 Irish trainer Aidan O Brien can become the record holder for British classic winners with 41 if Bolshoi Ballet give him his ninth Epsom Derby victory Glyn KIRK AFP 4 min
London (AFP)
Bolshoi Ballet is the punters choice to give trainer Aidan O Brien a ninth Epsom Derby and a 41st British classic breaking a record that has stood for almost 150 years later on Saturday.
However, it is John Leeper, a horse named after the late two-time Derby winning trainer John Leeper Dunlop and trained by his son Ed who may well attract the more romantically-inclined punters.
It s Derby Day Glamour! Arrivals at Epsom sport elaborate headgear and summer prints as they bask in sunshine
Racegoers basked in the sun today as they arrived earlier for Derby Day at Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey
Early arrivals sported their stunning summery frocks and elaborate hats for the day of festivities
Keeping Covid-safe with mandatory face masks, one arrival picked a silky blue gown and oversized fascinator to cheer on the horses
Sheikh-owned outlier Adayar was far from the bookies top pick to take home the sought-after title at the Epsom Downs racecourse in Surrey today. Some 4,000 fans attended the race today.
All the accumulations of Derby Day after winning the Oaks on Friday snowfall
The background story behind this horse, his name and breeding bear the hallmark of a Hollywood blockbuster.
In order to make it a potential Oscar winner, Frankie De Toli showed up at the last minute.
Named after Ed Dunlop’s late father, the legendary “John Leeper Dunlop”, he won this famous game twice in ten classic games, and the pressure has always been on this man.
If John Lipper wins the Derby later this afternoon, there will be no dry eyes in the house.
All of this is somewhat surreal, you can’t imagine it will become like this, it’s too good to be true.