A field of six including the unbeaten Maho Bay will go to post on Saturday for the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Listed) worth £60,000.
Charlie Appleby’s Dubawi colt has made a striking impression on both starts, and now steps up in class to Stakes company for a yard who won this in 2023 with Military Order.
Maltese Cross is set to step up in trip to 1m3½f for the first time after justifying market support to make a winning return to action at Newbury last month. He has progressed with each start and looks an exciting type for Somerville Lodge.
The hat-trick seeking Bay Of Brilliance will represent Ralph Beckett and owners Valmont. He could not have been more impressive on his final start as a 2-year-old.
Aidan O’Brien had several entered in this contest at the start of the week, but he has decided to declare just the one runner in the shape of Isaac Newton. The son of Camelot was fourth on his reappearance in the Feilden Stakes (Listed), but could strip fitter for that as he tackles this trip for the first time.
The field is completed by Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Balzac, and Andrew Balding’s A Taste Of Glory who made a winning seasonal debut in handicap company on the all-weather at this track in March.
Latest William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes odds: Maho Bay 9/4f, Maltese Cross 7/2, Bay Of Brilliance 6/1, Isaac Newton 8/1, Balzac 20/1, A Taste Of Glory 25/1
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “The William Hill Lingfield Derby and Oaks Trials look like informative events for the Epsom Classics. In the William Hill Derby Trial, we’d seen money for Bay Of
Brilliance and A Taste Of Glory ante-post, but the focus has shifted to Maho Bay and Isaac Newton.
“Maho Bay is currently the 7/4 favourite for Godolphin, with Isaac Newton out at 7/2. Don’t be surprised if the sole Aidan O’Brien runner is the subject of support, though, especially if they have another couple of productive days on the Roodee going into it.
“In the William Hill Oaks Trial, Prizeland was the one we laid ante-post, now 5/1 from 7/1, but all eyes will be on the Godolphin and Ballydoyle runners towards the top of the betting. Romantic Symphony is the 7/4 favourite and she could be anything, but we were most drawn to Ryan Moore choosing Cameo over Bloom. She looks the main danger to Romantic Symphony, and Ballydoyle backers will be buoyant after Benvenuto Cellini and Amelia Earhart’s Chester wins.”
Five fillies have been declared for the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) which precedes the Derby Trial. Godolphin are also responsible for the favourite in the shape of Romantic Symphony.
The daughter of Dubawi made short work of her rivals at Kempton last month when justifying cramped odds to maintain her unbeaten record.
Prizeland was an equally impressive wide-margin winner when scoring over 1m4f at this track on her most recent start. This is a step up in grade but she looks worthy of it.
Aidan O’Brien is doubly represented courtesy of Bloom and Cameo. The former was placed in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes (G3) on her reappearance and is seemingly the stable first string, while the latter could improve for this step up in trip.
The field is completed by the Jaber Abdullah-owned Amora Queen who failed to justify favouritism in a handicap at Doncaster last month.
The William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (G3) has an open look to it with eight fillies declared for the 7-furlong contest. Copacabana Sands is the highest-rated filly in this race as she prepares to make her stable debut for Andrew Balding after leaving Michael O’Callaghan.
Royal Velvet has recently developed a successful partnership with William Buick who gets the leg up aboard William Knight’s 5-year-old once again on Saturday.
