May 6 – Chester – Benvenuto Cellini – 80
A big week for Derby and Oaks trials began with arguably the pick of the crop – certainly over 1m4f – and Aidan O’Brien’s colt put the kind of marker down that rightly has him favourite for Epsom glory. Allowed to sit off the strong pace set by his stable companion, the son of Frankel moved through the gears in the final half a mile and he was impressive in easing clear of his opposition. Exhibiting stamina and speed in equal measures on the Roodeye, the flashy chestnut has all the necessary attributes to handle Epsom and it is not difficult to make a case out for him following in the same footsteps of Lambourn, who landed the same race twelve months ago.
May 7 – Chester – Constitution River – 82
Following on from Benvenuto Cellini, Ballydoyle introduced another classic contender into the fold and similar to his stable mate the previous day, he did not disappoint. Racing over a furlong and a half shorter, the impressive-looking colt exuded quality throughout the journey and he only had to be nudged out to dispose of his rivals. Probably the classier of the pair in terms of raw speed and the way he moves through a race, the son of Wootton Bassett would be a valuable addition to the Derby field should connections bypass his other Derby alternative over in France.
May 7 – Chester – Jan Brueghel – 83
By some way the classiest member of the party on paper beforehand, Aidan O’Brien’s inmate’s superiority finally came to the fore in the later stages and this performance has to go down as a perfectly satisfactory start to his campaign. No doubt likely to tackle much sterner opposition as the year develops, the five-year-old will have to raise his game accordingly, but he has a ton of natural ability and is just a case of him harnessing it in the right direction.
May 8 – Chester – Galiyan – 82
Joulany set the standard based on his effort at Newbury previously and the market reacted accordingly but he came unstuck up against Andrew Balding’s gelding who beat him fair and square on the day. Tracking the leader from the outset, the son of Galiway looked momentarily in trouble rounding the home bend but once straightening up for the judge, he stayed on in taking fashion to cut down his main market rival and in the end, he scored with a bit in hand. This was a significant step forward from his debut at Newmarket and he could develop into more than just a handicapper in time.
May 8 – Chester – Respond – 84
It was a bit of beano for Andrew Balding on the Roodeye and this son of Ghaiyyath was arguably the pick of the bunch. Setting out to make it a good test at the trip, the four-year-old maintained the relentless gallop all the way to the line and his speed figure backed up the visual aspect of the display. Bumped up to 105 by the assessor, he will most likely have to ply his trade out of handicap company in future but he is a horse clearly on the upgrade and he looks the type that could easily bridge the gap.
May 8 – Ascot – Secret Santa – 80
A hugely competitive sprint handicap run at a good pace and Richard Hannon’s colt came sweeping through from the rear of the field to pick the pocket of Hallo Spaceboy, who looked to have the race won over a furlong out. One of only a few maidens heading into this contest, the son of Lucky Vega belied his lack of experience with an impressive victory and he looks the type to do well in all the big three-year-old sprint handicaps in due course. As for the runner-up, Ed Walker’s inmate impressed with the way he travelled for ninth tenths of the journey and it was only in the dying strides when he succumbed to the winner. On the evidence of this display, he can prove just as effective dropping back in trip and he comes across as being just the type to go well in the Palace Of Holyrood over five furlongs at the Royal meeting, should he get a run (currently rated 82)
May 9 – Haydock – Lake Forest – 86
Ostensibly a Group 1 horse in a listed contest and he duly made his class count. The way William Haggas’ gelding bounded clear in the closing stages will surely have done his confidence the world of good and this effort should set him up nicely for a return to choppier waters. Unlucky in so many 7f/1m races last season, he clearly is a better operator over the former distance on the evidence of this performance and many of the big races over that trip look up for grabs for this talent, yet slightly frustrating five-year-old.
May 9 – Leicester – Sky Secret – 78
We always like to highlight some of the better two-year-olds coming through and the pick of the week based on the data was Clive Cox’s colt in this opening maiden. The son of A’Ali had shaped well on his debut at the same track a month previously and he put that valuable experience to good use with a performance to some note. Always to the fore at the Midland track, he gradually worked his way clear from two out and his winning speed figure is one of the quickest we have so far this season. Ordinarily, you would have expected this son of Cotai Glory to be aimed at the Windsor Castle, but due to the change in terms for that listed contest at the Royal meeting, the Norfolk might end up being the only option.
May 9 – Naas – Confucius – 73
The market very much expected Aidan O’Brien’s colt to go one place better than he did on debut and he duly made no mistake. Bouncing out in a bid to make all, the son of No Nay Never bagged the favoured far side rail and he set a gallop his rivals couldn’t match. Posting a useful speed figure, he sets the standard as far as two-year-old six-furlong colts are concerned and the Coventry Stakes looks his obvious target, for which his current odds of 6-1 look more than fair.
May 10 – Leopardstown – Catalina Delcarpio – 81
Paddy Twomey’s filly shaped well on bad ground at the Curragh first time out and she was extremely well backed to build on that promise in this Group 3. Nicely positioned in behind the pace, she picked up well when asked to go and run down the positively ridden Tokenomics at the two pole and she soon assumed command. tried over 1m4f last season, she seems better suited to this sort of trip (1m) and she can more than pay her way in some of the better fillies prizes on home soil. As for the runner-up, he backed up the view he was slightly unfortunate first time out and he also deserves to be kept on side.