Runners and riders for the 95. Mercedes-Benz Czech Derby will be declared by 11.00 on Monday June 15^th. For those of you who cannot wait until then, it is thought that British jockey Steve Drowne will ride Aldzarb, and French champion jockey Ioritz Mendizabal will ride Dumnonia. Parzival’s normal rider, David Breux, will be serving a suspension, and so the horse will be ridden by former Italian champion jockey Umberto Rispoli.

Former two-time Czech champion jockey Jan Rája is expected to ride Dalewari.

Sixteen horses were left in the race last Friday. As there are 16 starting boxes, all of them will get into the field, if declared. Betino’s website does not currently display any odds for the Derby. Presumably Aldar will be the favourite, following his comfortable win in the Bratislava Derby trial.

Czech Derby day at Prague Velká Chuchle is always a special day, with the racecourse at its midsummer best. The first race is at 1 p.m. The recommended way to arrive is by suburban train from Hlavní  nadraží (leaving at 19 and 49 minutes after the hour (train to Beroun)) and from Smichovské nadraží (leaving at 27 and 57 minutes past the hour). The journey from Smichovské nadraží takes just 5 minutes, and the station is directly opposite the main entrance to the racecourse.