BON VOYAGE TO QUINN’S VETERAN

Smash the winning record with improving Vatican City

second place marked him out as a colt of great potential.

My selection has an additional four furlongs to see out today and, while most of his sibings – including dual 2,000 Guineas hero Gleneagles – made their name at a mile, brother Taj Mahal scored twice at the Derby distance after relocating to Australia.

There is much improvement still to come on the fourth start of Vatican City’s life, and the chestnut can move O’brien past training greats Robert Robson, John Porter and Fred Darling, with whom he currently shares the Derby record of seven successes. Favourite

bidding to give his handler Ed Walker a first Group 1 win, impressed when landing Lingfield’s Listed Derby Trial last month and Frankie Dettori’s mount is feared.

Breathing down English King’s neck at the head of the Derby betting is

Andrew Balding’s challenger is already a Classic winner, having lifted Newmarket’s 2,000 Guineas four weeks ago, but may find 10 furlongs the upper limit of his stamina.

Staying the distance will not be a problem for strong at the finish in claiming

Royal Ascot’s Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes over a mile and a quarter.

also came home in front on the Royal heath, beating Tritonic for the Golden Gates Handicap, but Moore’s pick Mogul could manage just fourth place to

in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes.

Splitting the pair in third was

and David Simcock’s strong galloper, who wasn’t favoured by bidding to come from the back in a race run at a funeral-cortege pace, is the recommendation for those seeking an each-way play at bigger odds.

GALILEO: HIGH CHAPARRAL: CAMELOT: RULER OF THE WORLD: AUSTRALIA: WINGS OF EAGLES: ANTHONY VAN DYCK:

Vatican City was unlucky in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and can go one better today

SAFE VOYAGE should have happy landings in the Investec Surrey Stakes (2.25) before the top prizes take over at Epsom. The John Quinntrained veteran has Group 1 form — third in the QEII Stakes at Ascot last October — and his recent Haydock Listed-race defeat came at the hands of Space Blues, who promptly trotted up in a French Group 3 next time. The assessor has cut SHELIR 2lb despite an excellent fifth-of-23 in the Buckingham Palace Handicap when racing on the unfavoured middle of the track. Haydock’s My Alerts At Bet365 Handicap (2.40) is a drop in class for the mount of

should be rewarded. The Cheveley Park winner at two, Millisle ran better than her finishing position of fifth in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, with the quartet that beat her all racing nearer the quicker stands side. TODAY’S SELECTIONS Safe Voyage 2.25 Epsom Shelir 2.40 Haydock Millisle 5.45 Naas VOY WONDER Safe Voyage could find it plain sailing