This Unbeaten French Colt Just Dropped £75K to Gate-crash the Derby Party

By Lewis Barnett 2 June, 2025 5 mins read 60 Views

Well, this changes everything.

Francis-Henri Graffard's Midak – three wins from three starts and apparently getting better with each race – just got supplemented into the Derby for a cool £75,000. The late Aga Khan's family clearly thinks they've got something special here, and honestly? They might be right. This colt never stops improving, according to everyone who's watched him work. Now he's one of 20 still standing for Saturday's £1.5million showdown at Epsom.

The Footstepsinthesand colt wasn't the only late addition either. Juddmonte also opened their wallet wide, adding Henri-Francois Devin's New Ground to the mix. That's £150,000 in supplementary fees between two horses. Someone's feeling confident.

Audio Summary of the Article

O'Brien's Triple Threat (Plus Some Serious Market Drama)

Aidan O'Brien confirmed his big three: 9-4 favourite Delacroix, Lambourn, and The Lion In Winter – though that last one's been drifting like a ghost at a family reunion. Delacroix was getting hammered earlier but now he's looking a bit friendless in the market. Funny how these things work.

Charlie Appleby's keeping Ruling Court in the mix too. The 2000 Guineas winner has been attracting serious money lately while Delacroix drifts. Makes you wonder what the smart money knows that we don't.

Ralph Beckett's Dante winner Pride Of Arras stayed in as well. That one's been quietly fancied by people who know their stuff.

Who Got the Boot?

Seven horses said their goodbyes on Monday, including James Owen's Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye and O'Brien's Shackleton. Sometimes the supplement fee just isn't worth the gamble, I guess.

Betfred's Matt Hulmes seemed pretty excited about the French invasion: "We've got unbeaten Prix Greffulhe winner Midak at 14-1 and New Ground at 16-1. Having the famous green and red silks of the late Aga Khan in this year's Derby feels right – it's a proper tribute."

He's not wrong. Those silks have serious history.

The Jockey Situation Gets Interesting

David Stevens from Coral dropped this nugget: "Looks like Ryan Moore will be on Delacroix come Saturday. If that happens, he'll probably start favourite, though Ruling Court is breathing down his neck in our betting."

Moore on Delacroix? That's a combination that could do some damage.

Here's How the Money's Talking Right Now

Latest Betfred odds tell the whole story:

9-4 Delacroix (still favourite but drifting)
4-1 Pride of Arras, Ruling Court (the Appleby horse shortening)
6-1 The Lion In Winter
10-1 Damysus
12-1 Lambourn
14-1 Midak (the French newcomer)
16-1 Stanhope Gardens
20-1 Nightwalker, New Ground

Then it gets messy with everything else at 33-1 or bigger. Tornado Alert at 33s might be worth a second look though – just saying.

Twenty horses confirmed. One will make history on Saturday. The French have arrived fashionably late to the party, but sometimes that's exactly when things get interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the term 'photo finish' mean in horse racing?

A 'photo finish' occurs when two or more horses cross the finish line so closely together that it is impossible to determine the winner with the naked eye. In these cases, race officials use finish-line cameras that take images at high speed to determine the exact moment each horse’s nose crosses the line. The photo finish image helps officials to determine the official order of finish accurately.

How are racehorses selected and bred?

The goal of breeding racehorses is to produce horses that excel on the racing track. Breeders choose sires and mares who have proven racing pedigrees in order to produce offspring that are characterized by speed, endurance and temperament. Thoroughbreds have a long history of racing in England, and the bloodlines are meticulously recorded. Before starting their racing careers, potential racehorses will often undergo a selection process which includes pedigree assessments, physical assessment of conformation, and performance while in training.

What are the 'Classics" in UK horseracing?

Classics refers to the five most prestigious races in UK thoroughbred racing. These are usually considered the best contests of three-year-old horses. These are The 2,000 Guineas, The 1,000 Guineas, The Epsom Derby, The Epsom Oaks, and The St. Leger Stakes. Wining one of the Classics is a great achievement for a racehorse. And winning all three races of a gender is rare and historic.

How does handicapping work in UK horseracing?

In UK horseracing, the handicap system gives every horse an equally good chance of winning. In essence, the weights that horses carry in a race are determined by their previous performances. Better horses carry heavier loads to even the playing field for horses with less impressive past performances. The British Horseracing Authority is responsible for the handicapping process in the UK, and their team of handicappers regularly updates ratings following the results of races.

What does the term "stayer", used in racing, mean?

In racing terminology, a ‘stayer’ is a type of horse that excels on long distances. Typically, the distances exceed one mile. Stayers require not only speed, but endurance as well to maintain their pace during long races. Renowned stayers are often seen competing in long-distance events such as the Ascot Gold Cup.

How is safety maintained for horses and riders in a race event?

The safety of riders and horses is a priority in UK racing. Racecourses must meet strict safety standards. This includes the condition of tracks and the quality or the jumps. Horses are inspected for health before and after racing, and jockeys must wear safety equipment such as body protectors and helmets. The sport also employs veterinarians and rapid response teams to handle any incident quickly and competently.

Statistics

Around 14,000 thoroughbred foals are born each year in the UK with the goal of becoming top racehorses.
British racing oversees around 1,500 fixtures annually across its 59 racecourses.
The Grand National at Aintree boasts a prize fund of around £1 million, making it the most valuable jump race in Europe.
Approximately 6 million people attend horse racing events in the UK each year, making it the second most popular spectator sport in the country.
The annual Cheltenham Festival has an economic impact of over £100 million for the local Gloucestershire economy.
The prize money for the Epsom Derby stands at approximately £1.5 million, with the winner taking home a substantial portion of this sum.

External Links

How To

How to read a UK Horse Racing Racecard

The ability to read a racecard can significantly enhance your horse-racing experience. It contains details like horse names, number, color of jockey's silks (draw numbers), form figures, weight, trainer and jockey. The form figures show the horse’s performance over recent races. Numbers indicate positions, and letters indicate reasons why a horse did not finish. The weight carried is either the handicapped weight or the set-weight in weight-for -age races. Understanding this information will help you predict race results and select bets. Becoming familiar with racing symbols and terminology will help you to increase your knowledge.

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