Le Derby, how tricky can it be?

In my mind, I imagine that the assorted characters of Father Ted had days like today where, regardless of one’s good intentions, everything simply unravelled or was twice as difficult as it should have been. Thus, yesterday at lunch we had an amusing conversation about the one word that no Englishman or Frenchman can say in either of their opposite language, and how amusing to hear a Frenchman struggle with “squirrel”. Equally, how the French patron roared when he tried to hear us pronounce “ecureuil”. Later yesterday evening I did the form for Oaks day, after admittedly trying to maintain the entire Rosé wine industry single-handedly. I selected Have Secret in the 3.15pm at Epsom. “Ha!” said God and decided that Ecureuil Secret should win at 28/1. The fact that I tipped the third at 11/1 simply added acid to the irritation*.

Then we decided that The Oaks’ crown might be won by Joseph O’Brien’s Youmightakedlongway at a rather attractive 16/1. I was also overcome by a sudden rush of common sense and suggested Whirl to win, as insurance. Her neck second at 15/2 was also wounding. What a brave performance she put up together with YMTDLW whose fourth was another opportunity lost.

The day had already become a pain. I had struggled