Handicapper doesn't rate the champ

OFFICIAL handicapper Phil Smith is planning to give Pour Moi the lowest rating for a Derby winner since Sir Percy in 2006.

Andre Fabre's French raider showed tremendous acceleration to come from last to first at Epsom and claim a famous victory. But while Smith feels there is every chance Pour Moi will improve through the year, he is finding it difficult to rate him too highly due to proximity of some of the beaten horses.

"My view is that while I think we will find both the first and the third will go on to show they are very high quality horses, it is very difficult to give them very high ratings at this stage," said Smith.

"You have to look at the performances of the horses that finished sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth and I think it is difficult to rate the winner as high as the last four Derby winners.

"I need to speak to a colleague but my tentative rating for the winner is 122, which is the lowest for a Derby winner since Sir Percy. We rated him 121. Workforce was 128 after winning last year."

The Queen's Carlton House finished third on Saturday and while his rating is set rise 4lb to 120, Smith feels there is more to come from him too.

"I've given Carlton House a rating of 120, but I do think both he and the winner could be capable of getting to the high 120s," Smith continued.

"At this stage you have to look at the first five horses, which all finished in a bit of a heap, and decide whether we have five fantastic horses or some OK horses. I have a feeling it is probably the latter."