AT LAST, a Derby trial that might actually shed some light on what's going to happen at Epsom on 7 June. Or will it?
To date, this season's Blue Riband rehearsals haven't exactly furnished us with a mine of information but hopes were high today's Dante at York would redress the balance. As the great Kenny Dalglish may have put it, "mibbes aye, mibbes naw".
Exactly how significant this afternoon's £150,000 event, which was won 12 months ago by Authorized, will be largely depends on whether or not Twice Over puts in an appearance.
If he does, we'll all know if he deserves his place at the head of the market for the premier classic, if he doesn't, it's back to the drawing board and some serious head scratching. The latter activity is something punters must have got used to by now as regards this year's Derby since every time the case looks to have been cracked, it turns out they've been taken in by a red herring.
New Approach started the ball rolling a few weeks back when trainer Jim Bolger announced the subsequent 2000 Guineas runner-up wouldn't even be travelling to Epsom, far less running.
Never mind, Curtain Call's appearance in Lingfield's Derby Trial, a contest the colt's trainer Luca Cumani had twice successfully used in the past as a stepping stone to glory, would surely answer a few questions. Had he run, it might have, but it was decided the fastish ground wasn't suitable so he stayed in his box. The next false trail was set by Curtain Call who dotted up by six lengths at Leopardstown on Sunday and was immediately promoted to second favourite for the race that everyone is supposed to want to win. The slight problem in his case was that he hasn't actually been entered in the Derby so if connections want to rectify that omission, they're going to have to fork out £75,000 to supplement him and given public pronouncements, that doesn't appear a route they want to go down.
All of the above developments appeared to leave the way clear for Twice Over to confirm on the Knavesmire later today that he's the king in waiting but once again, the going could put a spoke in that particular wheel.
If conditions at York are considered too quick, Henry Cecil's unbeaten charge won't run which would leave us all as much in Derby dark as ever. "There's no decision as yet and we're not likely to make one until the morning," admitted Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Twice Over's owner Khalid Abdullah. "All we want is to make sure the ground is safe and that there is no jar in it. We are very keen to go because after this, there is no other chance to get a run into him."
The rest of the York card is less up in the air and following his last time out second at Chester, Green Park is napped in the opener. Bertoliver, the best bet's conqueror on the Roodee, is again in opposition but on more advantageous terms, and on a track that may suit him better, Green Park is fancied to turn the tables.
Turbo Shandy looks the banker on Perth's card which if I'm not mistaken should produce plenty of cheer for Scottish trainers. Peter Monteith's Rossin Gold, Catch The Perk from Lucinda Russell's yard, Lucy Normile's English City and Dallas Bell, representing Alistair Whillans, can complete a money-spinning tartan yankee bet.
As for yesterday's action, it seems the Derby isn't the only high-profile event on this side of the Irish Sea that doesn't have the same magnetic attraction it once did – certainly as far as trainer Jim Bolger is concerned.
Seconds after his charge Lush Lashes had romped to a highly impressive five lengths victory in the Musidora Stakes, the odds on the County Carlow-based filly going on to land the Oaks were slashed but those who fancy her to complete the double should perhaps not jump in just yet.
"The boss has just been on the phone and he says we're not going to rule anything out," said Bolger's travelling head lad Ger Flynn. "At the moment the Oaks at both Epsom and the Curragh are on the cards, but it will more likely be the Curragh. We won't rule the English version out, we'll see how she is when we get her home.
"This is her second trip over here so we need to see how much the race has taken out of her and how many kilos she has lost," he went on. "There is, though, a good break between now and the Irish Oaks, but Epsom is only three weeks away."
The full article contains 799 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
