Derby Trial Stakes

June 17, 2011
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Totesport Derby Trial Stakes betting and odds

Totesport.com Derby Trial Stakes betting preview

After Frankel blew his rivals out of the water in the 2000 Guineas last week, attentions switch to preparations for the Epsom Derby and the Totesport.com Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park on Saturday. The race over a mile and three furlongs is open to 3-year-olds and the early market signs suggest there’s little between all seven runners. Richard Hannon’s Measuring Time could go off paper jolly although the Mark Johnston trained pair Hurricane Higgins and Dordogne should take up a prominent position in the betting ring.

Derby Trial Stakes odds

A lot was expected of Measuring Time twelve months ago where he flourished as a 2-year-old winning his first two career starts over six and seven furlongs respectively. He then came up against Native Khan in the Solario Stakes at Sandown and only failed by half-a-length. The Hannon and Hughes combination found another too good in a listed event at Haydock next time and Measuring Time has failed to land a blow in 2011 with two second-place efforts. His inability to get his head in front might put off a few punters and this horse could be vulnerable should he be scrapping it out a furlong from home. Richard Hughes will again be in the saddle but 5/2 looks a little short for a horse who hasn’t won since his first two appearances on a racecourse.

Shrewd trainer Mark Johnston looks sure to play a big hand in this Derby Trial with the aforementioned Hurricane Higgins (4/1) probably his best hope. Stable jockey Joe Fanning opted for this lightly raced runner over Dordogne after his maiden victory in a Grade 5 event at Lingfield over 1m2f in January. Hurricane Higgins was a non-runner in the Classic Trial at Sandown last month so it will be interesting to see if connections already had one eye on this race. His chances are taken on trust though after only one career start. Dordogne (9/2) on the other hand will be ridden by Neil Callan in the Sheikh Hamdan colours although he will need to forget his last run in the Classic Trial where he hung badly and finished last of nine runners. If that run can be excused, Dordogne was a game winner at Newmarket just over a month ago and a similar effort would put him in the frame.

Marhaba Malyoon is an interesting runner for the David Simcock yard having won over slightly shorter at Bath last September in his only run to date. It’s unlikely he beat much apart from strong favourite El Mansour that day but he should stay the trip for William Buick and with scope for improvement, a big run can be expected at 6/1. Godolphin run American import Borug who finished second in a similar Derby Trial three weeks ago. Frankie Dettorii fresh from his 1000 guineas success aboard Blue Bunting will be hoping for a nice run and Saeed Bin Suroor’s runners are always high on the list. He is currently an 11/2 chance.

War is War and Laughing Jack complete the line-up and both colts are not without a chance in a wide open contest. Ed Dunlop transferred the latter from Michael Bell’s stable after his 5th in his racecourse bow at Newmarket last year and he repaid the faith shown to him by landing a competitive maiden at Windsor in April. War is War is another with little racecourse time but could enter the fray if recapturing his form as a 2-year-old. Both horses are 10/1 chances to scoop the £65,000 purse.