2 weeks ago
Derby
1. Constitution River
Timeform rating: 124p. Derby odds: 6-1.
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.
Pedigree: Wootton Bassett x Chuppy (Le Havre)
There’s nary uncertainty astir nan “wow” capacity of tests season: tactical speed, equilibrium and a finishing kick, Constitution River had it each successful a seven-length rout for nan Dee Stakes astatine Chester, pinch a large timefigure to backmost up nan form. But erstwhile was life ever that simple? An introduction complete a mile astatine Royal Ascot hints astatine stamina doubts, and existent reasoning seems to beryllium leaning towards nan 10-furlong French Derby connected 31 May.
2. Benvenuto Cellini
Timeform rating: 118p. Odds: 5-2.
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.
Pedigree: Frankel x Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega)
You could thrust yourself huffy trying to second-guess nan pecking bid successful O’Brien’s agelong database of Classically bred colts, but he ever sends a starring imaginable to nan Chester Vase and this year’s victor was conscionable arsenic impressive arsenic Lambourn, who completed nan Chester/Epsom double past year. Ticks each nan boxes connected pedigree, stamina and balance, and if Constitution River goes to Chantilly, that could good beryllium enough.
3. Item
Timeform: 117p. Odds: 6-1.
Trainer: Andrew Balding.
Pedigree: Frankel x Capla Temptress (Lope De Vega)
Horses specified arsenic this are why location are trials. Unbeaten successful 2 very low-key starts past season, Item is now unbeaten successful three, having muscled his measurement into nan Derby image pinch an emphatic two-and-three-quarter magnitude success successful Thursday’s Dante Stakes astatine York. Still showed signs of inexperience successful nan closing stages, however, truthful nan unsocial situation of Epsom has to beryllium a flimsy concern.
4. Maltese Cross
Timeform: 116p. Odds: 10-1.
Trainer: William Haggas.
Pedigree: Sea The Stars x Nabatea (Camelot)
Two Derby winners since 2019 person arrived astatine Epsom via Lingfield and this year’s trial produced 2 worthy Classic contenders arsenic Maltese Cross edged retired Bay Of Brilliance by a neck. The clip was only so-so, but location was a batch to for illustration astir nan measurement Maltese Cross handled Lingfield’s steep downhill tally to nan location turn, a captious nugget of acquisition pinch Epsom successful mind.
5. Bay Of Brilliance
Timeform: 116p. Odds: 20-1.
Trainer: Ralph Beckett.
Pedigree: New Bay x Incroyable (Singspiel)
Close 2nd in nan Lingfield trial down Maltese Cross pinch a large spread backmost to third. They person akin chances astatine Epsom connected that bare form, though Maltese Cross’s determination to cling connected nan triumph is simply a constituent successful his favour.
6. James J Braddock
Timeform: 111p. Odds: 16-1.
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien.
Pedigree: Zarak x Burkina Faso (Mukhadram)
If O’Brien snr does not transportation disconnected different Derby, possibly O’Brien jnr will. James J Braddock is named aft a legendary 1930s boxer and landed nan captious last blow successful nan Leopardstown trial, nailing Pierre Bonnard connected nan line. Decent form, but needs a awesome measurement up to fig successful nan large one.
7. Pierre Bonnard
Timeform: 111p. Odds: 16-1.
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.
Pedigree: Camelot x Sultanina (New Approach)
Spent nan wintertime connected apical of nan Derby marketplace aft a Group One triumph successful France successful October, but defeats successful 2 outpouring tests person weakened his lawsuit significantly. Short-headed (by James J Braddock) at Leopardstown and arsenic likely, if not much so, to amended for nan Derby trip, though Leopardstown looks for illustration 1 of nan lesser tests this season.
Oaks
1. Legacy Link
Timeform: 110p. Odds: 5-1.
Trainer: John Gosden.
Pedigree: Dubawi x Chiasma (Galileo).
A priceless pedigree – Chiasma is simply a afloat sister to Frankel, nary little – and a proceedings to lucifer successful nan Musidora. She travelled, quickened and past showed an fantabulous attitude, fighting backmost for a three-quarter magnitude triumph having been headed a furlong out. Will canter astir Tattenham Corner to get a consciousness for Epsom and heads location clear champion among nan home-trained team.
2. Amelia Earhart
Timeform rating: 112p. Odds: 5-2.
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.
Pedigree: Camelot x Venus De Milo (Duke Of Marmalade)
The Cheshire Oaks winner needed 5 tries to triumph astatine 2 but has intelligibly improved markedly complete nan winter. Showed a good move of ft to scoot 2 lengths clear and will person learned plentifulness from nan Chester experience, but existent likelihood are short capable against less-exposed rivals.
3. Abashiri
Timeform: 106P. Odds: 14-1.
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree: Frankel x Sobetsu (Dubawi)
The least-experienced runner successful nan 1,000 Guineas but ran a immense title to decorativeness fifth. Not definite to spell to Epsom and struggled pinch nan downhill Dip astatine Newmarket, but intelligibly talented, has immense scope for betterment and bred to admit a mile-and-a-half.
4. Venetian Lace
Timeform: 111. Odds: 12-1.
Trainer: Charlie Johnston.
Pedigree: Masar x Nash Nasha (Dubawi)
A 33-1 changeable for nan 1,000 Guineas but outran those likelihood to decorativeness third, and promises to amended complete further. Overall profession grounds of 1 triumph from 7 starts is uninspiring, but acquisition counts for thing astatine Epsom too.
5. Cameo
Timeform: 106. Odds: 16-1.
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.
Pedigree: Wootton Bassett x Zagitova (Galileo)
Best activity astatine nan decorativeness erstwhile quickening astir 5 lengths clear successful nan Lingfield trial. Likely to beryllium trainer’s second-string connected jockey bookings but plentifulness of those person won Classics successful nan past.
Sahlan tin make ray of inexperience astatine Newbury
Francis-Henri Graffard enjoyed a play for nan ages successful 2025, erstwhile he landed a bid of apical races including nan Arc, King George and Champion Stakes and vanished a agelong measurement clear successful nan French trainers’ championship, and his lightly raced four-year-old, Sahlan (2.35), is an absorbing each-way changeable for nan Group One Lockinge Stakes astatine Newbury connected Saturday.
Sahlan will beryllium making only his eighth commencement this play but has already banked a Group One win, successful past season’s Prix du Moulin astatine Longchamp, and vanished a adjacent fifth, having recovered immoderate problem successful running, successful nan Breeders’ Cup Mile astatine Del Mar successful November.
On a strict reference of that form, Sahlan has thing to find pinch Notable Speech, nan 2024 2,000 Guineas winner, but nan title panned retired ideally for Charlie Appleby’s runner successful California and 10-1 is simply a tempting value for Sahlan to reverse nan shape and springiness Graffard a 4th Group One triumph of nan caller campaign.
Newbury 1.25 Kalapana is nan people enactment present but shoulders a Group One punishment connected her seasonal debut and could beryllium susceptible to nan race-fit West Wind Blows, who should get an easy clip of it connected nan lead.
Newmarket 1.42 Twisting Physics has intelligibly been a tricky equine to train and this will beryllium only nan sixth commencement of his career, but he showed much than capable astatine Newbury past period to propose he is immoderate measurement up of his existent mark.
Newbury 2.00 Six runners and nary evident pacemaker truthful bets are champion kept to a minimum, but Sacred Ground should possibly beryllium a small shorter than 3-1 having been fixed plentifulness to do earlier finishing 2nd successful a amended title astatine Newmarket past time.
Newmarket 2.50 Emma Lavelle has a useful strike-rate pinch her mini set of Flat horses and Silver Ghost could beryllium different victor for nan yard, having shown up good for a agelong measurement connected her return to action complete way and travel astatine nan Guineas meeting.
Newbury 3.10 Last year’s Lowther winner, Royal Fixation, escapes a punishment for that triumph and pinch mobility marks complete a mates of evident rivals, she looks nan 1 to beat.
Newmarket 3.27 David O’Meara’s Sixtygeesbaby has shape figures of 142 complete way and travel and was a adjacent 2nd disconnected 85 connected her last commencement of 2025 truthful is handicapped to spell very adjacent from a 3lb little mark.
Newbury 3.45 There are respective imaginable Group-class performers successful nan section for what is ever 1 of nan strongest three-year-old handicaps earlier nan Royal meeting, but marginal penchant is for Roger Varian’s Al Azd, who overcame plentifulness of problem successful moving connected nan measurement to a comfortable occurrence astatine Doncaster past time.
