Rostropovich stakes another Ballydoyle Derby claim

Rostropovich joined the Ballydoyle team of Investec Derby possibles when the strapping son of Frankel ran out an impressive 3¾-length winner of the Homeserve Dee Stakes here yesterday.

The colt, stepping up to a mile and a quarter and encountering decent ground for the first time since last July, had too many gears for My Lord And Master, the Epsom trial runner-up, and readily quickened clear a furlong out.

He is now 20-1 for the Derby, although there has to be a chance, given his breeding and how he has been campaigned over a mile or less until yesterday, that he is higher up the batting order for Aidan O’brien’s Chantilly Prix du Jockey Club squad over a mile and a quarter than he is for Epsom’s sterner test.

“We always thought going beyond a mile would suit him,” said O’brien. “He quickened up well off a nice even pace. We couldn’t ask him to do much more than he did. They [all Ballydoyle’s Derby hopes] have to get out there and see wherever we go. They were barely ready to race a month ago, so the improvement in some of them is drastic.”

If Rostropovich’s Derby entry is in pencil, Saxon Warrior is inked in. Traditionally, when O’brien has had a good thing, he only runs a brace, but he did not rule out major back-up for Saxon Warrior.

“I don’t know how many we’ll have in the Derby. I’m never against running a lot but we have Ascot and the French Derby to consider,” said the trainer, who also won the Ormonde Stakes with Idaho.

Another Batt’s win in the Abbey Logistics Handicap Stakes gave Southampton striker Charlie Austin double cause to celebrate after his team’s Premier League survival was almost assured.

The meeting concludes today and while you might have thought the draw would be negated over 2¼ miles, the 188bet Chester Cup has been won by a horse drawn five or under in seven of the past 10 years.

My Reward looks to have an excellent chance. The six-year-old has won second time out the past two seasons, had a nice warm-up at Ripon, is drawn on the inside and has the style of racing to suit here.