O’Brien has eyes on British rivals at Epsom

Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial isn’t really a Derby trial these days.

The 2017 winner, Cracksman, did go on to finish third in the premier classic before making a Group One name for himself, but Blue Peter was the last Blue Riband winner to then fly the flag on the big day in June and that was 85 years ago.

Still, it will provide valuable information for trainer Aidan O’Brien as he weighs up the general strength and depth of the British opposition and shuffles his pack of classic cards accordingly.

Today he runs Chief Little Rock, who looked just short of very top class when placed in minor Group races last autumn.

He’s entered in the Irish Derby, rather than the Epsom one, but you never know with O’Brien three-yearolds. Produce something special and he can always be supplemented.

Four of his six opponents do have Epsom entries, but none of them is being taken seriously by market players. Bellum Justum looks overpriced at 14-1 this afternoon and might give Chief Little Rock most to do.

The opening Betfred Handicap is more of a bone fide trial, but this is a rehearsal for Derby Day’s opening “Dash”, the well-named sprint down Epsom’s straight track. It’s the fastest five-furlongs on turf in the world, usually covered in less than 55 seconds.

Several of today’s 13 are trailblazers, a situation which often leads to much cutting of throats and resulting in something a little more patiently ridden to come through and snatch it.

Ruth Carr’s Jojo Rabbit fits that bill and he’s back in the winning groove after a spell in the doldrums.