Bullet Train can book his place in Derby line-up

THE Chester meeting just gone did little to shake up the market for the Epsom Classics and so the search train rolls on to Lingfield today where the Derby and Oaks trials headline a decent looking card. In recent years, these are two trials that have struggled to unearth an Epsom champion with High Rise in 1998 and Ramruma in 1999 the last colt and filly to win here before going on to Epsom glory in the Derby and Oaks respectively.

One of the features of this week’s Chester trials was the lack of competitiveness of the Aidan O’Brien runners. Those sent, whether in genuine belief of potential success or just a toe being dipped in the water, never managed to land a blow. It must be noted that none of the stable’s perceived stars were on show and perhaps those that did run showed enough to encourage the Ballydoyle Team that their classier inmates waiting to throw their hats in the ring could yet be genuine Derby contenders.

In today’s Lingfield Derby Trial, O’Brien is double-handed with Criterium de Saint Cloud fourth Don Carlos and maiden winner Captain James Cook but one can’t help feeling that these are just two more foot soldiers on yet another reconnaissance mission.