Why the Derby's later date benefits English King and other leading fancies

Better late than on time. That might prove an apt reworking of the old proverb if one of the leading fancies wins the 2020 Investec Derby, which unusually has been moved back four weeks to this Saturday, July 4, from its original date of June 6.

The first four in the betting – English King, Kameko, Mogul and Russian Emperor – are all April foals and the history books suggest their date of birth would have put them at a disadvantage if the Derby had been run in its traditional slot in early June.

Instead the delay caused by the Covid-19 pandemic may well have improved their chances by giving them a crucial extra four weeks to develop.