The Derby 2014 - Ante-Post

Take Cover - Bunker (background, right [in grey]) could be a live Derby contender

My ante-post punting over the last twelve months is the main reason I’m not showing a healthier profit on here than I am. However in spite of the pitfalls and frustrations that come along with long range bets, there’s just something about it I can’t resist.

Sitting on a ticket at a massive price when everybody else is on at a fraction of your odds allows you to feel smug and superior, until the horse gets absolutely stuffed of course (Dawn Approach in last year’s Derby for example).

I will not be deterred after last year’s Derby debacle though and I’m back for further punishment with a speculative bet on a horse I’ve been a big fan of for some time now.

He was my idea of a banker on Arc day when I was there last October but didn’t make the cross-Channel trip and with his form having stood up, he more than likely would have won.

With not holding an initial entry in the Derby there was some consternation over whether he would actually line up, but he features among the second entries for the race recently announced and having already bagged an Arc you can bet connections will be keen to have a go if they have a live chance in the race.

The horse in question is Bunker, winner of two of his three starts last season and second in the Chesham behind Berkshire on the other.

Richard Hannon’s colt looks bred for this race and having missed the Derby with Toronado, a horse that had one time looked like being a rare Hannon Derby contender I’d say there’s a very good chance they’ll go there with him if he impresses in his trial for the race, likely the Dante at York.

He was impressive enough to warrant a sale on his debut at Haydock, beating a couple of subsequent winners before being well supported for the Chesham at Royal Ascot on his first start for new connections.

Berkshire has obviously gone on to land the Royal Lodge since and third placed Ihtimal is thrice a winner at Group level since, while fourth placed Somewhat has twice been placed at Group 2 level since. including a neck second to Berkshire in the Royal Lodge so the form looks strong.

Bunker’s final start at three saw him line-up at Deauville on Jacques Le Marois day where he was a narrow victor over Karakontie, a subsequent winner at Group 3 level before landing the Group 1 Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day.

So again the form of his two-year-old races looks to have worked out well and this son of Hurricane Run, bred to be a middle-distance horse, looks a big price considering at as big as 40/1 for the Epsom Classic.

Of course he may not have trained on but reports from connections have been typically bullish and a big performance on his three-year-old debut will surely see his price contract to a fraction of what you can get at present. There’s discrepancies between the bookies too with Coral only going 20/1.

All in all, though it is only two months away it is still too early to form a strong view on the Derby really, but in Bunker you have a horse with strong two-year-old form that’s bred for the trip and in my view, given the price available about him, is worthy of a small ante-post bet for the Derby.

Recommendation:

0.5pt win Bunker to win the Derby @ 40/1 (Sky Bet/Bet365)