Epsom Derby 2006

Epsom Derby 2005

Epsom Derby 2004

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Light sparkles in Derby
Kieren Fallon and North Light shone brightest of all in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on June 5th 2004.

Sir Michael Stoute's improving colt (7-2) beat Rule Of Law to give the trainer and champion jockey back-to-back victories in the blue riband following Kris Kin in 2003.

Let The Lion Roar was third.

Fallon had the Dante Stakes winner in an ideal position on the shoulder of Meath from the start.

He was always going to try to make use of his mount's undoubted stamina and so it proved, as he took up the running with three furlongs to run.

American Post tried to sit in his slipstream but could never get to the leader and faded a furlong and half out.

Percussionist came with a challenge, having lost his position at the top of the hill, but he could not get there either as the Stoute team won the day by a length and a half from the Godolphin second string (20-1).

Stoute, sending out his fourth Derby winner, said: "I'm not a genius! This is a lovely horse, and a lovely horse to train.

" All credit to the (Ballymacoll) stud as they bred the joint-favourites, and it is quite a remarkable achievement. It is a shame Lord Weinstock isn't here, but the family are.

" We were going to let the horse flow. There was the possibility of it being a muddling race and he is an assured front-runner. This is only his fourth race, so we are thrilled with him. Let's just keep out fingers crossed that he goes on."

Derby due off later
The Vodafone Derby is to have its latest ever start next month with the premier Classic due off at 4.20pm.

The Epsom showpiece has gradually got later over the last seven years with four different time slots. It started at 4pm 12 months ago, having been run at 3.50pm from 1999 to 2002 and at 3.45pm in 1998.

Epsom managing director Stephen Wallis admitted that a possible clash with England's soccer friendly against Iceland, being shown live on Sky with kick-off at 3.30pm and half time at around 4.15pm, was just one of three factors that influenced the change.

"The BBC and TalkSport, which are both covering the Derby, said they weren't particularly worried, but my view is that if we can go to 4.20pm and half-time, why not, so the greatest number of people who want to watch the race can, although we don't think the game will have a bigger audience," he told the Racing Post.

"Linked to that, is that in order to accommodate a 4pm Derby, and my determination that the Derby should not be the second, third or fourth race, but the fifth so that we build up the sense of anticipation on the day, a 4pm Derby means we have to start racing at 1.40.

"We've got around 3,500 people having lunch here, we have around 50,000 out of 100,000 having picnics, and if we can delay starting for another 20 minutes until 2pm it helps them, which is actually quite an important issue."

Wallis went on: "Yes, the football helped me think, 'can we do it', but the third reason was in talking to the BBC, who believe that the later you run the race, the better the chance you have of getting a bigger TV audience.

"All three factors are relevant, but there are also little things like if we start at 2pm it means we shut the London Road crossing that little bit later, so buses and coaches have two entrances onto the hill that much longer."

Wallis was concerned that sports editors of Sunday newspapers would oppose the change, but said: "They appreciated being consulted and at least they know now and can work out their arrangements."

Chester to leave trials unchanged
Officials at Chester are keen to persevere with their two recognised Derby trials despite both races this year being won by geldings.