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I viiiniiV »| ; j England Difficult to Name Derby Favorite; List Dozen Who Have Good Chances By CLTVE GRAHAM London Correspondent, Daily Racing Form LONDON, England. — -Even at this late date it still seems impossible to name what will be the backers choice -for next Wednesdays Epsom Derby. It is certainly an unusual year, for one can name a dozen horses with chances. Here is a brief run through of those with leading prospects. First, Rowston Manor, by Pearl I viiiniiV Diver, Diver, out out of of Nivea Nivea by by* Diver, Diver, out out of of Nivea Nivea by by* Nearco. This big chestnut colt, more than 17 hands, has had one race this year when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial, over a similar course and distance to the Epsom Derby, two weeks ago. He ran Darius to one and a half lengths in last last years years Champagne Champagne last last years years Champagne Champagne Stakes over six furlongs at Doncaster. Of the two, he seems more likely to stay the Epsom route. Douglas Smith, his jockey, would have been champion several times had it not been for the unbeatable Sir Gordon Richards. Harry Peacock, his trainer is a bluff old Yorkshireman who reckons Rowston Manor easily the best horse he has.jever had through his hands. AAA Darius, by Dante out of Yasna, by Das-tur, has not been raced since winning the .Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket last month. Harry Wragg has given him a light Derby preparation, but he knows the colt and knows what suits him. Darius had two half-brothers, The Golden Road and Nebuchadnezzar, who were downright quitters as 3-year-olds. So far, Darius has done little or nothing wrong in his nine races, having won five and placed second in four. He will suit the course and should again beat French-trained Ferriol by Fastnet out of Aissa, by Thor n. as he did in the Guineas. Fastnet has never yet sired Na really top-class performer. A strong point in Ferriols favor is jockey Rae Johnstones post-war record in this classic. He has won twice and been placed twice. AAA Landau, by Dante out of Sun Chariot, by Hyperion, ran second to Rowston Manor and in front of Ambler n., in the Lingfield Trial already referred to. The black colt is an in-and-out performer, and professional racegoers do not have much faith in him. It is difficult to know just what to say of Ambler n. His trainer, Capt. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, declined to make excuses for him after his Lingfield failure which followed two stylish victories. Harry Carr, his jockey, is prepared to allow him a second chance. He points out that the Lingfield tuff was slippery after rain, and that Ambler n. was put out of his stride when a horse fell in front of him in the final quarter mile. AAA There is a lot of local excitement over Johnny Longdens mount, Blue SaiL This colt was the central figure in the "Prender-gast Case," and is now trained by Michael Dawson. The Alberta Ranches contingent are here in force, and Max Bell has brought over a party of a dozen to see Wednesdays classic. Blue Sail, a winner and second in his only two races this year, has done everything asked of him in his training. On his pedigree, by Tehran out of Set Sail, by Blue Peter, he should not be found wanting for stoutness. The same applies -to Elopement, by Rockefella out of Daring Miss, by Felicitation. He is a brother to Gay Time, who ran second to Tulyar. Owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, he is not such an elegant colt as Gay Time, but he won the Newmarket Stakes of one and a quarter miles with a strong burst of last-furlong speed, and will probably get one of the minor places. AAA Nasrullahs son, Valerullah, came into the betting when beating Festoon at Salisbury last week. That was only the third race of his career. He is out of Painted Vale, a full brother to John Constable, now at stud in Kentucky. Infatuation, by Nearco from a Sir Cosmo mare, has come back to favor following a slight training setback. Unless there is rain, though, he seems too big and ungainly as an Epsom proposition. Outsiders with American interests are R. S. Clarkes Never-Say-Die, by Nasrullah, and Walter M. Jeffords Blue Prince n. by Princequillo. Plans not to run Never-Say-Die were changed after he had shown favorably in a workout last Saturday. . .It seems to this writer that Rowston Manor, Darius and Elopement are the three most likely to fight out the finish. AAA The Oaks on June 4 looks, if anything, even more open. Captain Boyd-Rochfort is starting four, his chief hopes reposed in Angel Bright, sister of Aureole. Festoon seems unlikely to last the distance, and the best chance may be held by the Aga Khans little filly, Bara Bibi by Bois Roussel out of Masaka, also a winner of the Oaks... The outstanding effort last week was that of Premonition. The 1953 St. Leger winner re-appeared in the Yorkshire Cup, two miles, against some smart rivals, and won with ease by four lengths. It looks as if he will be unbeatable in the Ascot Gold Cup next month.
