Racing: Tholjanah takes the eye as rain slips in new factor

The rain poured on Epsom yesterday and the money flowed for one of the outsiders in the 223rd running of the Derby. It was likely to have been a trickle of cash rather than a torrent though as the horse in question was Tholjanah and it does not take a great weight of money deposited with William Hill and Ladbrokes to force a horse's price to collapse when it starts the day as a 40-1 shot and ends up at 25-1.

What will have encouraged the supporters of Tholjanah and several of the other runners is that the steady rain that fell on Epsom eased the going enough for the clerk of the course to predict good to soft patches when the 14 fillies declared yesterday line up for the Oaks tomorrow. The same patches may not be in evidence for the Derby the following day as a fresh strip of ground is to be used for the Blue Riband but, with more unsettled weather predicted this week, the patches could spread.

Richard Hills, who rode a double at Newcastle yesterday and partners Esloob in the Oaks and Bandari in the Derby, was encouraged by the weather report. "They are having a lot of rain down at Epsom and that won't worry my Classic mounts," Hills said. "It was soft when Esloob finished third in the Fillies' Mile at Ascot last autumn, so we know she handles it. Don't forget her – she's a very good filly."

Of Bandari, Hills added: "He has won on the soft too, so conditions will be to his liking too. Not only that, it will put a greater emphasis on stamina and that might not be good for the favourite [Hawk Wing]. It could be a great weekend."

Hills, retained by Hamdan Al Maktoum as stable jockey, has chosen Bandari ahead of Tholjanah who will be making his seasonal debut in the Classic having been absent from the track since finishing second to Mutinyonthebounty in the Royal Lodge Stakes, on soft ground at Ascot last September.

"He is in good form," Marcus Tregoning, Tholjanah's trainer said. "He worked very well away from home last week which is why we've committed him to the race and we've been happy with him since so I hope he's going to run a nice race."

The deputy aboard Tholjanah, will be Willie Supple, whose only previous ride in the Derby was on Tasdid, 12th in 1996 behind Shaamit, the last horse to win the Derby without the benefit of a previous run that season.

Jamie Spencer, who rides Moon Ballad in the Derby, was fortunate to escape serious injury when the troublesome Carradale, who had also knocked over his trainer, Denys Smith, slipped up on leaving the parade ring before the mile handicap at Newcastle. Spencer took a heavy fall, but said: "I have just banged my hip, I will be all right for Chepstow tomorrow." Spencer has been fined 500 euros for his riding of Black Sam Bellamy, who finished fifth in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly on Sunday. In a special hearing convened at France Galop headquarters in Paris yesterday it was determined that Spencer had transgressed by moving to the left. Although not classed as a major offence, it was deemed that Spencer's actions had hindered Great Pretender sufficiently to cost him third place.

At the same hearing Michael Kinane was cleared over his riding of seventh-placed Diaghilev in the Classic.

War Emblem, even-money favourite for Saturday's Belmont Stakes, will break from stall 10 in his attempt to win the Triple Crown. "I'd rather be drawn outside than inside," Bob Baffert, said of his Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner. "He's outside most of the speed."

DERBY (Epsom Saturday) Ladbrokes: 11-8 Hawk Wing, 9-4 High Chaparral, 5-1 Bandari, 8-1 Naheef, 10-1 Fight Your Corner, 16-1 Moon Ballad, 25-1 Coshocton, 25-1 Tholjanah, 40-1 Louisville, 50-1 Where Or When, 66-1 Frankies Dream, 100-1 Jelani.

William Hill: 5-4 Hawk Wing, 5-2 High Chaparral, 6-1 Bandari (from 5-1), 7-1 Naheef (from 8-1), 10-1 Fight Your Corner, 16-1 Moon Ballad, 25-1 Coshocton, Tholjanah (from 40-1), 50-1 Louisville, 66-1 Where Or When, 150-1 Frankies Dream (from 66-1), Jelani (from 100-1).