CHARLIE APPLEBY will make a decision today as to whether the exciting Nations Pride will contest next weekend’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
The colt, who won impressively on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket and is general 7/1 third favourite for the Debry, would need to be supplemented for the race at cost of £75,000.
Following a piece of work in Newmarket this morning, Appleby said: “Nations Pride has impressed in his work at Moulton Paddocks this morning with William Buick on board.
“A decision will be made in the next 48 hours whether he will be supplemented for the Derby.”
Appleby has already secured three classic successes this season, in the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 and French 2,000 Guineas.
None of the winners of those races are set to compete at Epsom but the trainer should nonetheless saddle a strong team.
Even if Nations Pride does not run, Appleby will have both Walk Of Stars (16-1) and Nahanni (20-1) to rely on.
He has won the Derby in two of the last five seasons, with Masar running out the winner in 2018 before Adayar proved a decisive winner of the race last season.
Should Nations Pride de directed away from Epsom, either the Prix du Jockey Club or the Irish Derby will surely be his next port of call.
Derby betting
Coral: 2-1 Desert Crown, 5-2 Stone Age, 7 Nations Pride (needs to be supplemented), 7 Piz Badile, 15-2 Changingoftheguard, 12 Star Of India, United Nations, 14 Walk Of Stars, Westover, 16 bar
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to SE. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org