April 23 / 14.45 Epsom

14.45

Good

Betfred Blue Riband Trial (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £28355
  • 1m 2f 17y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred Blue Riband Trial (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.10
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 5241-

Last run: 208 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Built upon his previous promise to win big-field Newmarket maiden (1m, good to firm) last September on his fourth start; this Sea The Stars colt is in good hands to continue to progress and could be suited by the step up in trip, but others have more substance to their form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(3)

1st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Bellum Justum

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Useful colt whose 1m2f form comprises a success in Epsom Listed race (good) and commendable third in Royal Ascot Group 3 (good to firm); doesn't appear to be crying out for this return to 1m4f and he's held by Sayedaty Sadaty on Derby running.

9/2

3rd

2

(2)

20th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:40 Ascot

Bellum Justum

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Fast-ground 2yo winner who reappeared with a win in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom (1m2f, good) in April; faded into a soundly beaten seventh in the Derby (1m4f, good to soft) 19 days ago; this drop back in trip may be the right move for the time being, but others possess stronger form.

20/1

7th

3

(12)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:30 Epsom

Bellum Justum

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

From family of multiple Group 1 middle-distance winners Warrsan (including two Coronation Cups) and Luso; an unassuming 2yo by Classic standards, ending with a 1m maiden win at Newmarket, but he reappeared with a workmanlike success in the Listed Blue Riband Trial here (1m2f, good) and this straightforward 3yo can improve for this greater stamina test; four of the yard's last six Derby runners have finished in the frame, three at 50-1 or bigger.

20/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 16-

Last run: 206 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Got up in final strides on debut at Sandown (1m, good to soft) last August before another creditable run when 4l sixth of nine in Group 2 at Newmarket (1m, good to firm); his dam is from a classy family and this Camelot colt could relish the step up in trip on today's reappearance; contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

4

(3)

21st Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

17:40 Ascot

Defiance

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Roger Varian

Looked a colt going places when making a winning debut at Sandown (1m, good to soft) last August; 0-3 since, and although he ran well when second in Blue Riband Trial at Epsom (1m2f, good), that still leaves him with plenty to find and he needs to put a disappointing run in Lingfield Derby Trial (second favourite) well behind him; represents last year's winning stable.

33/1

7th

4

(5)

11th May 2024

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 1

15:00 Lingfield

Defiance

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Roger Varian

Big-race entries include the Derby; got up in final strides on debut at Sandown (1m, good to soft) last August before 4l sixth of nine in Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket (1m, good to firm); 10-1, finished strongly from the rear when second of six in Listed race at Epsom (1m2f, good) 18 days ago, which looked promising for this test over a longer trip.

9/4

7th

4

(5)

11th May 2024

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 1

15:00 Lingfield

Defiance

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Roger Varian

Big-race entries include the Derby; got up in final strides on debut at Sandown (1m, good to soft) last August before 4l sixth of nine in Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket (1m, good to firm); 10-1, finished strongly from the rear when second of six in Listed race at Epsom (1m2f, good) 18 days ago, which looked promising for this test over a longer trip.

9/4

Form: 2122-

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won Leopardstown maiden (1m, good) last August and runner-up in Group races at the Curragh (1m, yielding to soft) and Newmarket (1m, soft) the next twice; he's a brother to 1m4f Royal Ascot winner Okita Soushi and there's plenty to like about his claims now up in trip on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(1)

21st Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

17:40 Ascot

Chief Little Rock

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Building up a useful CV and his comfortable all-the-way Group 3 win at the Curragh (1m2f, good/yielding) last month was a personal best; galloped on strongly that day and should stay this extra 2f; another plausible candidate for Aidan O'Brien.

9/1

1st

1

(7)

26th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Chief Little Rock

9st 5lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

made virtually all, clear before halfway, ridden under 2f out, pushed out, comfortably

4/1

1st

1

(7)

26th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Chief Little Rock

9st 5lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

made virtually all, clear before halfway, ridden under 2f out, pushed out, comfortably

4/1

3/1

Form: 126- BF

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in Group 3 at Newmarket last October when last seen, but soft ground may not have suited on that final run for Andrew Balding; before that he was a Listed runner-up at Salisbury (1m, good) behind a winner who followed up in a Group 3, and his dam was a 1m2f Canadian Grade 1 winner so there's optimism regarding this trip; interesting contender on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(16)

13th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:50 Newmarket (July)

Arabic Legend

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

took keen hold, disputed lead

10/1

2nd

1

(8)

30th Jun 2024

Good

1m 1f 0y

13:10 Curragh

Arabic Legend

9st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

prominent, led after 1f, clear when ridden under 2f out, headed but kept on inside final furlong, no match for winner

5/1

Form: 11-

Last run: 181 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won by a head on debut at Newbury (7f, heavy) last September and followed up by a nose in Newmarket novice (1m, soft) in October; goes up in grade and others have better form but his dam was a Listed-placed 1m4f winner and he could have plenty more left in the tank, especially now up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(2)

23rd Apr 2024

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 1

14:45 Epsom

Feigning Madness

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won by a head on debut at Newbury (7f, heavy) last September and followed up by a nose in Newmarket novice (1m, soft) in October; goes up in grade and others have better form but his dam was a Listed-placed 1m4f winner and he could have plenty more left in the tank, especially now up in trip.

9/2

5th

6

(2)

23rd Apr 2024

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 1

14:45 Epsom

Feigning Madness

9st 3lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won by a head on debut at Newbury (7f, heavy) last September and followed up by a nose in Newmarket novice (1m, soft) in October; goes up in grade and others have better form but his dam was a Listed-placed 1m4f winner and he could have plenty more left in the tank, especially now up in trip.

9/2

1st

1

(7)

25th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

Feigning Madness

9st 10lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

carried right and hampered rival soon after start, in touch with leaders, pushed along over 4f out, not clear run under 3f out, ridden and headway 1f out, kept on well to lead post

4/1

Form: 343-

Last run: 126 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
All three starts were on AW towards end of last year; displayed ability in defeat each time, finishing third on stable debut at Wolverhampton (8.6f) when last seen, and the step up in trip may be a plus for this half-brother to a 1m4f/1m6f winner, but bundles of improvement is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(2)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

14:25 Chester

Bur Dubai

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

made all, travelled strongly, increased tempo over 3f out, shaken up and went clear home turn, went further clear over 1f out, unchallenged

11/4

3rd

2

(6)

6th Jun 2024

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 4

15:55 Hamilton

Bur Dubai

9st 10lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

in touch with leaders, went second after 2f, lost second inside final furlong, soon no extra

3/1

2nd

5

(3)

1st May 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Bur Dubai

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Broadly similar efforts in a trio of 1m maidens on synthetics last backend, and remains to be seen whether the RPR of 90 for last week's 5l sixth of six in a slowly run Blue Riband Trial (good) flatters him; winning exploits of one half-sibling at 1m4f and beyond offer encouragement.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £86.00
Straight Forecast £84.53
Trifecta £175.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Chief Little Rock

NEWMARKET:

Defiance

Daily Mail:

Feigning Madness

SPOTLIGHT:

Arabic Legend

Telegraph:

Bellum Justum

The Star:

Feigning Madness

The Times:

Defiance

Daily Mirror:

Defiance

TOPSPEED:

Chief Little Rock

POSTDATA:

Chief Little Rock

The Guardian:

Chief Little Rock

Daily Record:

Chief Little Rock

D Express:

Arabic Legend