George Gerakanakis of Novibet takes a look at the two feature races at Saturday’s Derby Trial Raceday, the Novibet Oaks Trial and Novibet Derby Trial.
NOVIBET OAKS TRIAL FILLIES' STAKES – 2.15pm, Saturday 8th May
The Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes run over 1 Mile 3 ½ furlongs has attracted 15 entries at the 5 day declaration stage. Four of those are from leading trainer Aidan O’Brien’s stable and include Willow, Divinely, High Heels and Snowfall. Willow is the only one of these to have run as a 3 year old, finishing seventh in a 1 mile 2 furlong listed race at Navan on 21st April.
Looking at the form of Snowfall, there is a notable race to look at as a two year old, which was the Fillies Mile at Newmarket in October 2020, which also features another entry in Dubai Fountain, trained by Mark Johnston. Snowfall finished 8th, Dubai Fountain was 4th, but the 3rd horse to finish was Mother Earth, the recent 1,000 Guineas winner.
Martyn Meade has a strong entry in Technique who ran an excellent 2nd at Epsom in the Blue Ribband Listed race over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs on 20th April and looks a likely front runner in the betting.
One final horse to mention at this stage is Loving Dream from John and Thady Gosden. She ran well at Wetherby on 25th April, also over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs on good ground, and will have every chance of being competitive this weekend it what looks a very open Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes.
THE NOVIBET DERBY TRIAL STAKES – 2.50pm, Saturday 8th May
The Novibet Derby Trial Stakes has 16 entries at the 5-day declaration stage and half of them are made up from leading trainers Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Appleby.
High Definition, the exciting Galileo Colt is the most notable entry from Aidan O’Brien won both starts to date and is current favourite to win The Cazoo Derby. Both runs were wins at The Curragh last August and September respectively over a mile and the later was a very convincing run with High Definition finishing strongly indicating this distance would be no problem.
Kyrios is another entry from Aidan O’Brien and last time out won on 23rd April at Cork over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs on good ground.
The leading entry from Charlie Appleby is sure to be Adayar, a Frankel Colt who looks to have more improvement to make after finishing 2nd in The Classic Trial at Sandown on 23rd April over 1 Mile 2 furlongs. William Buik is booked for the ride and expectations are for a big race from Adayar.
Hurricane Lane, another Frankel Colt comes here on the back of a winning performance at Newbury last month and stayed on well in a 1 Mile 2 Furlong Conditions Stakes. The 2nd of 4 entries from Charlie Appleby is sure to be competitive here.
