Dear My Friend looks set to represent Middleham Park Racing this weekend at Epsom as the owners first Derby runner, a notable milestone for the syndicate.
The three-year-old son of Pivotal will be carrying the syndicate's familiar pale blue and orange silks in the Epsom classic is currently at 100-1 for the Charlie Johnston stable, with a rating of 104.
The chestnut colt enjoyed a successful two-year-old season with two novice victories on his first two career starts. He placed third in a quality Listed race when travelling to Deauville in August to gain some black type. He enhanced that status on his return for 2023 when a neck winner of the Listed Burradon Stakes on all-weather championships finals day at Newcastle on Easter weekend before an eighth of eleven in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York two weeks ago.
"It's our first ever runner in the race, we're going into it with eyes wide open," said Mike Prince of Middleham Park.
"He was well beaten in the Dante but we think the step up in trip will suit him. There'll be a few horses in the race who don't say, there'll be a few horses in the race who don't handle the track and there'll be a few horses in the race who don't handle the occasion – hopefully we'll be there trying to pick up some of the pieces.
"He'll need to take a step up in his form, he's a notch below the favourites at the moment but we're hoping that step up in trip will lead to some improvement from him. He's got a lovely, long stride and a slow cadence."
"There have been some horses at big prices making up the placings in recent years, Hoo Ya Mal was 150-1 and I think the third and fourth that year were big enough prices (Westover at 25-1 and Masekela at 66-1).
"That's one of the things we said to the owners when were deciding to enter, there's good place money down to sixth and they're all delighted that we're rolling the dice.
"He is rated 104 so he is going there on his merits, it's a race with a great sense of tradition and there'll certainly be a good contingent there to support him and enjoy the occasion."
