Bruised Dettori has his sights on Derby hat-trick success

The ever popular Italian jockey suffered a scare when taking a tumble from Magillen on slippery ground at Leicester on Tuesday, though he did bounce back to score at Lingfield’s evening meeting.

“A nasty fall won’t stop my bid for Derby glory at Epsom,” said Dettori, who will be seeking his third win in the Derby following the successes of Authorized in 2007 and Golden Horn 12 months ago.

“I slipped after the line at Leicester on Tuesday but despite a few bumps and bruises I’m raring to go for Epsom.

“I’ve got a slightly sore elbow, but there’s no lasting damage and I’m not going to let a fall derail my bid for more Classic glory.

“I’ve got a good favourite’s chance in the Derby and the forecast rain doesn’t do us any harm.

“He’ll definitely stay, and being out of Pivotal, any cut in the ground would be OK, too.”

The ground at Epsom eased further yesterday and was described as soft, good to soft in places.

Meanwhile, former champion apprentice Oisin Murphy believes Diamonds Pour Moi can sparkle in tomorrow’s Epsom Oaks for fillies.

The Irish-born rider teams up with the Ralph Beckett-trained filly, who was only beaten a length when third to Somehow in the Cheshire Oaks last month on what was only her second racecourse appearance.

“She’s got a similar profile to Look Here, who got beat at Lingfield before winning the Oaks off a mark of 94. This filly runs off 95,” said Murphy.

“Minding might be very hard to beat, but my filly is drawn two and she’s straightforward. She is by a Derby winner and is not short of pace. She’s quite a slight, small filly, but is as tough as nails and I don’t see the track and the hurly-burly of Epsom being a problem.”

Murphy, victorious in Pontefract’s concluding race last Friday night, was speaking after Elbereth stuck on gamely to take the Nottinghamshire Oaks at Nottingham for trainer Andrew Balding.

Grand National-winning jockey David Mullins is recovering in hospital after suffering a broken collarbone and a collapsed lung in a fall at Ballinrobe on Tuesday evening.

The young rider was partnering Erlkonig for his uncle, Tony Mullins, when he came to grief four flights from the finish. He underwent surgery on his lung yesterday.

Mullins won the Aintree showpiece aboard the Mouse Morris-trained Rule The World in April – the teenager became one of the youngest ever winners of the world’s greatest steeplechase.

Seven to go. Well travelled North Yorkshire jockey Andrew Thornton’s trip to Sussex paid off when the weighing room veteran recorded his 993rd career winner at Fontwell aboard Kentford Heiress.

Guiseley trainer Samantha Drake’s burgeoning career continued at Cartmel yesterday courtesy of Nicki’s Nipper 20-1 win at the popular Lake District track.