THE writing was on the wall for Lingfield's Derby trial early yesterday morning when Luca Cumani pulled the favourite, Curtain Call, out of a race on ground which the Italian-born trainer felt was "going to be too quick".
If such conditions would have discomfited Curtain Call, rated as low as 5-1 for the Blue Riband after his recent saunter at Nottingham, then Cumani can only pray that the rain keeps away from Epsom. And if it ends up good or softer, it would not be h
ard to see Curtain Call triumph at least over yesterday's triallists.
For none of the first three home gave any indication that they are superstar material. Alessandro Volta battled hard to beat stable companion King of Rome by just under a length, the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair just lasting longer than Frankie Dettori's mount Campanologist who was a neck behind in third.
Alessandro Volta did not appear to handle Lingfield's final bend which is a pale imitation of Tattenham Corner, so it was no wonder the bookmakers were not that impressed – his price remained largely unchanged. At least O'Brien had the 1-2, whereas his hot favourite for the Oaks trial at Lingfield, Ice Queen, flopped into fourth place behind the unheralded Miracle Seeker.
Attention now switches to York and the Dante Stakes. If Derby favourite Twice Over, trained by Henry Cecil, puts up even a half-decent show he will go to Epsom as a sure thing, given the paucity of serious challenges which have emerged so far.
Today's Derrinstown Derby trial at Leopardstown could also display a live contender for Epsom if Dermot Weld's once-raced Casual Conquest lives up to his billing.
Over in France this afternoon, it's their equivalents of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas, both at Longchamp. Narkava will be very hard to beat in the latter.
• Perth stages its annual Ladies Day on Thursday afternoon, with the Office Party night taking place on Wednesday evening. The action then moves to Hamilton Park on Friday for "Braveheart" night, with the first race off at 6.20pm. The feature event, the Listed Braveheart Stakes, should see the reappearance of Alan Swinbank's popular mare Turbo Linn.
The full article contains 374 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
