18:10 It is a good 45 minutes since the last race finished and the party continues on the hill and it looks like continuing for quite a while yet.

It's been a good Derby meeting - I've enjoyed it anyway. After the shock of yesterday's Oaks it was the more fancied runners that contested the finish of the Derby.

From Epsom goodnight and see you at Ascot.

17:55 That's it from Epsom and the 2008 Derby which, despite all the controversy surrounding the big race, gave us a classic worthy of the name.

Having said that the supporting cards were not bad either.

The crowds have been good with 19,000 here yesterday and 38,000 in the stands today with the crowds on the hill taking the numbers over 100,000.

17:50 Kevin Manning has picked up a three day ban for careless riding after winning the Derby. He was found to have caused interference to Rio De Le Plata a furlong and a half from home.

Trainer Jim Bolger has said New Approach's next target will be the Irish Derby on Sunday 29th June.

17:30 Jim Bolger's response in the press conference:-

"Well, after the press conference for the (Irish) 2,000 Guinea when I stated that Epsom was not on his agenda you know what happened with regard to his races from there.

"I felt all along that if we were to try and win two Guineas with him that it wouldn't be possible to take in the Epsom Derby. So, not to build up anybody's hope at that stage, I was happy to say that we would not be coming to Epsom because I felt having two Guineas runs and only two weeks between the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Derby that it just wouldn't be possible.   

“Anyway, moving in a little bit from there, when the cancellation stage (May 23rd) came up. I had four or five horses on the list to take out and to this day I don’t know why I didn’t take out New Approach. It was a genuine mistake. It was an embarrassment to me at the time. I just didn’t think that there was any chance that he would be running here. He was still in the list.

“Move on three days after the Irish 2,000 Guineas, he hadn’t lost any weight, not even half a kilo. He was exactly the same weight two days after the Curragh as he was before the race. He was bucking and squealing by Wednesday and, at that stage, I thought about it for a few days because, in fairness to everyone involved, the owners of the horse and John Ferguson here on my left, I had to b esure of my ground before I made contact with John on the Sunday to see if they were in agreement with me running the horse.

“I said to Jackie (Bolger’s wife) after I spoke to John Ferguson, I don’t think this will be happening. I was thrilled to get the call back from John to tell me if I was happy with the horse, the horse should run.”

17:25 A decent 6f sprint, the Prince’s Stand, is the usual finale to the Derby meeting.

In a race hit by five non-runners Dandy Nicholl’s had four of the remaining twelve runners yet the best he managed was third with Gift Horse.

Idle Power proved to be anything but, setting a decent pace but it was destined not to last as the field bunched up behind.

First run went to Mac Gille Eoin under Jim Crowley and it proved to be a decisive run as he put enough daylight between himself and the remainder to hold off a late challenge from
Our Faye under Richard Kingscote who was closing at a fair rate of knots..

17:10 Sir Michael Stout was "delighted" with the performances of runner up Tartan Bearer and fourth placed Doctor Freemantle.

Ryan Moore, rider of the runner-up said, "We just got done but he's run a great race and we almost got there."

16:55 The result of the 4:45 can be found on the right. No report I'm afraid as I missed the race due to it clashing with the post Derby press conference.

16:45 Jim Bolger has said he genuinely believed that New Approach would not be running in The Derby, however he came out of the two guineas runs better than expected. He also reaffirmed that leaving the horse in The Derby was a genuine mistake.

16:17 Well I suppose it had to happen after all the controversy surrounding the participation of New Approach that the beast went on to win The Derby.

Led to the start by a pony, following the other riders, the naturally headstrong horse took a keen hold at the beginning of the race.

The initial pace, as expected, was made by the rank outsider Maidstone Mixture tracked by the Ballydoyle pacesetter Bashkirov.

Coming down the hill towards Tattenham Corner, Jamie Spencer looked down at Curtain Call who was then eased.

The grey Kandahar Run led turning out of Tattenham Corner, closely attended by Doctor Freemantle who ended up getting first run.

However the other big names were stalking and the “big three” eventually fought out the finish with New Approach getting the better of Tartan Bearer and the favourite Casual Conquest.

I'm off to the press conference now for some quotes.

15:43 The Derby jockeys are shaking hands with today's guest of honour Vincent O'Brien

15:17 BBC TV Presenter Clare Balding is happy, her brother Andrew has just trained the winner of the Vodafone Dash.

Holbeck Ghyll defied tradition by winning from stall eight in what is the fastest 5 furlong sprint in the world and a race usually dominated by those drawn high.

As always it was a massive charge, with little to separate the entire field.

Merlin’s Dancer took second with Safari Mischief third and last years winner Hogmaneigh in fourth.

There are some questions about the start as it looks as though Northern Empire may have crashed the gates but as he wasn’t placed there shouldn’t be any impact on the race.

14:55 A update on the glass wall crashers - latest and most spectacular is Pricewise from the Racing Post. They have now covered the offending glass with post-it notes to end our fun.

14:45 For the first time, if memory serves me correctly, at this Festival we had an all the way winner as Lady Gloria took the Princess Elizabeth Stakes. That’s not to say she didn’t have to work for her victory.

Tom Queally took the James Given filly into the lead, although it has to be said it was a soft lead as the pace wasn’t that strong.

Bahia Breeze was the one to follow, only to fade in the home straight.

Jamboretta under Ryan Moore tried for a gap on the far side but one did not materialise, having subsequently looked at the race from another angle I am not sure if she had the pace to get through anyway.

Coming inside the final half the leaders lead was diminishing under a two pronged attack from Cicerole and Enforce, who were only separated by a head for the minors.

14:15 The funning thing about betting is it is a human concern, the horses neither know nor care what their odds are. And so it came to pass that Smokey Storm drifted dramatically in the betting from 11/4 out to 4/1 yet he still won the Woodcote Stakes with something in hand.

For these two year olds the race would be something of a shock, having never encountered a course like Epsom before.

Ritzy Wildcat was the pacesetter under Eddie Ahern, with plenty of others queuing behind.  Mazola and Indian Master took up the running in the final furlong but the favourite found a gap and took the race with ease, followed by a running on Indian Art under Richard Hughes.

Disappointment of the race was Our Wee Girl held up in the rear by Jamie Spencer but not having anything left when pulled to the centre and asked for a run.

13:45 Superlatives  aren’t enough for this first race – I have just seen one of the best performances in a long time as the well backed favourite Conduit put in a devastating last to first performance in the opener, demolishing the field by six lengths.

When I say well backed it needs to be put into context of the day – this favourite has been better backed than any in the Derby.

Midships, normally a front runner, missed the break leaving Cobo Bay to do the donkey work up front, although after a furlong Midships had joined him. Siberian Tiger took up the running as they came off the top of the hill and soon established a strong lead.

All the time Ryan Moore on the favourite was happy to track the field. In the home straight Moore bought the favourite over to the centre of the course, where arguably the better ground is, and launched his run destroying the field in a matter of strides and winning as he pleased.

The places also went to running on horses  with First Avenue and Ramona Chase taking the respective places.

This was a handicap race and I think it is safe to say we will never see Conduit in a handicap again.

The trainer of the runner-up, Sylvester Kirk, was pleased with his runner admitting he had run into a well handicapped horse in the winner, to whom he was conceding a stone. “It’s unfortunate because he’s a tough horse and deserves to win a nice race.”

Winning jockey Ryan Moore said it wasn't his intention to come down the centre saying "We were just outpaced and I had to pull him wide"

Interestingly connections are playing down the success, all the trainer would say was "He's a well balanced horse."

13:00 Her Majesty has arrived and is wearing a fuchsia coloured coat.

12:32 Five Live almost needed another commentator for this afternoons action as John Hunt became the latest journo to walk into the glass wall of the press room. Due to the construction of the new grandstand the press box is a temporary structure on the Princes Lawn. It is glass fronted with a couple of glass doors. For some inexplicable reason people keep walking into the glass panel beside the door.

It is a good spectator sport but as I am going to be here for at least another six hours I had best not speak too soon.

11:45 Some jockey facts for the big race. The oldest rider today is Mick Kinane at 48, whilst the youngest is Michael O'Connell who is 22.

The most successful rider today is Johnny Murtagh who has three wins and three places from eleven rides.

The least successful jocckey is Richard Hills who is riding in his fourteenth Derby with his best result being third on Sakhee in 2000 and third on Aqaleem last year.

Three pilots, David McCabe, Paul Mulrennan and Michael O'Connell are riding in their first Derby's.

11:30 I have just been for another stroll around the enclosures, they are certainly starting to fill up now with a great atmosphere building up.

Talking of building, considering Epsom are in the middle of constructing a new Grandstand it doesn't really resemble a building site - unlike another course one could mention.

I have just walked into the winners enclosure - it is so small, it seems something of a paradox that the winner of, arguably, the greatest flat race in the world ends up in such a small winners circle.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are due to arrive at 1:00, well they arrive at Tattenham Corner at 12:50, then will be parading down the course.

10:13 A couple more none runners, mostly because of the going. All I can say is keep an eye on the right and check the latest non-runners.

10:00 I have just been for a stroll around the main enclosures and it is surreally quiet. The caterers are taking up their positions, the police sweep teams are carrying out their final checks.

Looking across at The Hill the open top busses are beginning to arrive and the crowds are starting to fill the hill.

It is difficult to imagine that in just a few hours the enclosures will be a seething sea of humanity, many dressed in full morning suits and top hats.

There can be few sporting occasions that match Epsom on Derby Day in terms of atmosphere – I am tingling already.

09:30 A very good morning from a sunny Epsom Downs where we look set to have a glorious day weather wise.

The early arrivals are grabbing their spots on The Hill as indeed are the early arrivals grabbing seats in the Press Room.

Six non-runners so far today, the most significant being River Proud in the big one. Very annoying for connections who paid £75,000 to supplement him last Monday and they won't get their money back.

Return to race archive

Non-Runners

2:!0
6 Penninsular War (Lame)

3:15
12 How's She Cuttin' (Going)

4:00
14 River Proud (lame)

5:20
1 Rising Shadow (not eaten up)
4 Skhilling Spirit (Going)
8 Angus Newz (Going)
10 Jilly Why (Stiff)
17 Prince Namid (Not eaten up)

Results

1:40 Totesportcasino.com Stakes

1st 9 Conduit 11/8 fav
2nd 12 First Avenue 8/1
3rd 4 Ramona Chase 17/2
12 Run
Distances 6L & Neck
Tote
Win £2.30
Place £1.10 £3.20 £3.20
Exacta £15.00

2:10 Woodcote Stakes

1st 9 Smokey Storm 4/1 fav
2nd 4 Indian Art 9/2
3rd 1 Able Master 8/1
10 Run NR 6
Distances 2 1/4 L & Nose
Tote
Win £4.20
Place £1.80 £1.70 £2.80
Exacta £15.80

2:40 Princess Elizabeth Stakes

1st 7 Lady Gloria 7/1
2nd 4 Cicerole 7/2 jf
3rd 5 Enforce 15/2
9 Run
Distances 1/2 L & Sh Head
Tote
Win £8.70
Place £2.30 £1.50 £2.60
Exacta £39.70

3:15 totesport.com Dash

1st 13 Holbeck Ghyll 15/2
2nd 14 Merlin's Dancer 12/1
3rd 11 Safari Mischief 17/1
4th 2 Hogmaneigh 9/2 fav
19 Run NR 12
Distances 1/2 L & 1/2 L
Tote
Win £9.30
Place £2.50 £3.00 £2.20 £2.00
Exacta £127.20

4:05 Vodafone Derby

1st 12 New Approach 5/1
2nd 16 Tartan Bearer 6/1
3rd 5 Casual Conquest 9/2 fav
16 Run NR 14
Distances 1/2 L & 4 1/2 L
Tote
Win £5.80
Place £2.30 £3.20 £1.50
Exacta £42.80

4:45 Northern Dancer Stakes

1st 10 Bureaucrat 11/1
2nd 9 Bandama 9/2 fav
3rd 13 Aureeate 14/1
16 Run
Distances head & 1/2L
Tote
Win £14.50
Place £4.50 £2.50 £5.00
Exacta £77.00

5:20 Prince's Stand Stakes

1st 5 Mac Gille Eoin 11/1
2nd 14 Our Faye 20/1
3rd 9 Gift Horse 9/2
13 Run NR's 1 , 4 , 8 , 10 & 17
Distances 1 1/2 L & 1 1/2 L
Tote
Win £14.90
Place £4.10 £6.10 £2.00
Exacta £205.60