....that imagines at this time of the year the controversial Derby loving Chuckles the Clown has transformed his living space into a Derby "bunker" if you will?

...that there are multiple monitors showing race replays and pan shots from tracks around the country, maybe even around the world?

...that there are scattered throughout the bunker old volumes of Stallion Registers,charts from Derbies in the near and distant past, obscure nicking patterns and tracts by Rasmussen and Tesio?

In my mind I think of the War Room in Dr Strangelove (Gentlemen! There will be no fighting in the War Room!) or maybe the curtained lair of the Wizard of Oz.

One thing is for certain, if we don't take him too seriously, Chuckles will take us through a veritable magical mystery tour of the 20 Derby contenders. They will all at one time or another be mortal locks or throwouts,sometimes both in the same hour.

CTC will probably occasionally post his Derby top ten contenders list. It may have six horses, it may have 14 horses.

One thing I have learned is that even more difficult than picking the winner of a complex Derby is figuring out who CTC likes to win. To get him to commit to one selection before the race is like driving a nail through the proverbial blob of mercury.

Don't dare question Man of Chuckle's take on a pedigree.. he will bury you with links tracing a pedigree back to Eclipse, the Byerely Turk and the Darley Arabian.

After the Derby, CTC will likely dismantle the bunker and enjoy some brews for a few months, eventually reappearing in September as the BC preps begin.

I for one will enjoy the spectacle of CTC in full Derby stride... and by the way, Chuckles, have the Phipps' contacted you yet about that bloodstock position?