Aidan could go for Glory at the Derby
There has been little evidence of pomp in the Derby trials run to date, but LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY (Lingfield, 4.00) could launch a bid today for inclusion at epsom.
With runners in the Derrinstown Trial on Sunday and at York’s Dante meeting next week, trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Derby hand is far from cast and, after a week at Chester where main hope US Army ranger was underwhelming, this represents a big weekend for Ballydoyle.
O’Brien will be hopeful that Land of hope and glory has improved for a subdued reappearance on dead ground at Newmarket, where he was left behind by Linguistic.
his conqueror was narrowly beaten at Chester yesterday to give the form a minor boost, but the selection needs to show more sparkle or the likes of Carntop, owned by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, will capitalise in the Betfred Derby Trial Stakes.
Victory for Carntop would be appropriate given the success of the Queen’s Dartmouth yesterday and the royal runner is pleasing trainer ralph Beckett in his homework.
humphrey Bogart is another to consider, given his epsom performance behind So Mi Dar was enhanced yesterday by victory for Viren’s Army.
Paul Nicholls has started the new jumps season in the manner he finished the last and ALL YOURS (haydock, nb, 2.15) looks a major player in the Swinton hurdle.
A winner of the Grade One Juvenile hurdle at Aintree last spring, the five-year-old has been kept fresh this term in the hope connections could find a handicap like today’s on genuinely good ground.
In the circumstances, the selection did not run too badly at Cheltenham in the County hurdle, where his rider reported the dead ground and stiff track were against him.
There are no such excuses here and his high cruising speed should be seen to good effect in a big field where a decent pace looks assured.
In typical Mick Channon fashion, VOLUNTEER POINT (Lingfield, nap, 2.50) has been kept busy, but the daughter of Footstepsinthesand ran well again following a poor start at Goodwood last weekend and will be happier back on the Polytrack. her form on sand reads 142141112 and booking ryan Moore is a positive.