A racehorse breeder who lives near the Downs has spoken about his hopes and dreams before this week's iconic Oaks race.

Barry and Fiona Reilly, from Woodcote Stud in Wilmerhatch Lane, delivered Kingston Hill, who came second in the Derby last year. He was known as Milo as a foal.

This year the couple hope another horse born there, Rachel later renamed Malabar, will make a name for herself in the Oaks on Ladies’ Day this Friday.

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Young fillies out in the field

In his study surrounded by photos and clippings of winners, Mr Reilly said: "I think if she turns up and the ground’s not lightning fast...she could end up being fourth in the Oaks.

"We would have had three fillies that we’ve bred and they’ll probably all end up being fourth in the Oaks. Which would be strange."

Last year Inchila ran in Woodcote Stud’s colours and came fourth - the second horse born there to do so. Inchila later broke her pelvis at Royal Ascot and died.

Mr Reilly said: "You take your chance and unfortunately it didn’t work for us. It was bittersweet year last year."

His office houses several wooden urns, containing her ashes and the ashes other racehorses including the mother of their dynasty, Dance By Night.

He said the urns are being stored there temporarily, adding: "We are going to make a graveyard because it’s history. This farm has breed and raised classic racehorses. It’s right and fitting."

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He added: "We’ve been extremely lucky. There’s a saying that you would rather have a lucky owner buy your horse than a wealthy one."

Meanwhile the descendants of those horses are still growing up and have their racing days ahead of them. For example, in the stables there is a young foal, who is a "three part sister" to Kingston Hill.

And when Mr Reilly walked into one of their large fields, half a dozen strapping young fillies raced towards him. He called them "our future champions" and pointed out one sired by racehorse Dalakhani.

He said: "I think she will grace the Downs. We will be disappointed if she’s not a racing filly. She’s got something about her."

Mr Reilly’s local is the Amato pub where a mystery tipster writes the name of the horse predicted to win the Derby on a wishing well every year.

The patrons still share tips on the horses running in the Derby, but he said the build-up is not what it used to be when the couple moved to Epsom 26 years.

He said: "The racing community in Epsom has become micronised. When we first moved here there might have been 1,200 horses in training here. I would be surprised if there’s 200 horses in Epsom now.

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Barry Reilly holds a photograph of Kingston Hill

"I think the facilities here are good, it must be to do with the property. Before we came a lot of the stables round here were sold for development."

He added: "You can’t get good staff to work in a place where they’ve no accommodation and it’s quite expensive to live round here."

He said fewer travellers and gypsies seem to come to the Derby these days, but he said: "The actual Downs seems to be getting busier and busier".