Frankie Dettori pleads with Epsom Derby protesters planning to hijack race as huge police force prepare to protect track

'Let's hope protestors don't impede this beautiful event'

Jockey Frankie Dettori told #BBCBreakfast he hopes campaigners from Animal Rising don't disrupt the Epsom Derby this weekend https://t.co/Y5lzQXxGiO pic.twitter.com/iWBR3DPEqI

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) June 1, 2023

Protesters stormed the track at the National sparking a 14-minute delay – and there are fears the same will happen at Epsom for the Derby

But there are huge fears protesters could storm the track in a repeat of ugly scenes seen at April’s Grand National.

Trainer Sandy Thomson said the actions of some protesters trying to glue themselves to the racecourse contributed to the sad death of his horse Hill Sixteen.

And there are huge concerns about what a chaotic delay could do to fully wound up three-year-old colts on Saturday.

No one knows horses better than Dettori and he used his appearance on BBC Breakfast to plea for protesters planning to storm the track to see sense.

He said: “I just hope things go smoothly and we can get off racing without creating any problems to anyone, or put anyone in danger

“Let’s hope protesters dont impede this kind of beautiful event.”

Epsom bosses last week successfully took out a High Court injunction against the protesters.

This means storming the track – just like we saw at Aintree – is illegal.

There were 118 arrests in the aftermath of the Grand National chaos.

Epsom have spent an extra £150,000 on security measures to secure the racecourse, which is easily accessable to the public.

The Jockey Club, who run the course, want to remove protesters as quickly as possible with minimum disruption to the race.

At Aintree local residents actually ran onto the track to drag the protesters off.

The Derby will be off at its earliest ever start time of 1.30pm this year due to the clash with the FA Cup final.