RaceBets Derby Trial Stakes |
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| Listed, Lingfield 14:30 £60,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 3f 133y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 11th May 2019 | |
1 Anthony Van Dyck 2/1F
2 Pablo Escobarr 6/1
3 Nate The Great 16/1
10 ran Distances: 2¼l, 1¾l, 1¼l
Time: 2m 31.27s (slow by 5.47s)
It's a win for Anthony Van Dyck in the RaceBets Derby Trial Stakes at @LingfieldPark! pic.twitter.com/GFhONJpttW
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 11, 2019
Aidan O'Brien won his third key Epsom Derby (G1) trial in four days after Anthony Van Dyck painted his rivals into the corner with a classy turn of foot at Lingfield.
The Ballydoyle maestro also has a serious chance of bagging the two remaining Derby trials, with leading fancies in both the May 12 Derrinstown Derby Trial Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown and the May 16 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (G2) at York.
In the race itself, Ryan Moore had Anthony Van Dyck tucked away on the inside rail off a decent pace set by outsider Severance before the pair made their move two furlongs from home.
Despite being an easy-to-back 2-1 favorite, the winner showed no signs of stopping to see off the challenge of gallant runner-up Pablo Escobarr and third-place Nate The Great. The well-backed Cap Francais was fourth.
None of O'Brien's four previous winners of the listed trial, two of whom have been partnered by Moore, has gone on to cut much ice at Epsom, although last year's runner-up, Kew Gardens, did go on to win the William Hill St. Leger (G1).
Part-owner Paul Smith said: "Ryan was delighted with Anthony Van Dyck. He said he gave him a nice feel, and he's always been a class horse from his Dewhurst days. He'll come on for the run, and there were a few fit ones in there, so it was a good performance.
"Aidan has them in great form, but it's difficult to talk about pecking orders, especially when you have sleepers like Sir Dragonet. We have other trials still to come and need to see what happens tomorrow in Ireland and in the Dante, but this fellow would be up in the pecking order at the moment."
Moore, who last won the race with the O'Brien-trained Kilimanjaro in 2015, added: "That was very smooth all the way around for Anthony Van Dyck, and he was happy going up in trip. He'll improve for the run."
Despite having to settle for the minor honors, jockey James Doyle was satisfied with the performance of Pablo Escobarr but warned the Derby may be a bridge too far.
"That was a good run," Doyle said. "He's a gutsy horse, and we knew he would stay and that he had form on easy ground. He sets a fair level, but I don't know if it's Derby form as this hasn't been the right trial for years."
The runner-up's trainer, William Haggas, reflected: "I thought he ran a good race. He's a very solid galloping horse, and horses who stay a mile and a half and try hard are hard to find.
"The owner might want a shot at the Derby, but he's in lots of races. I'd just like to win a race with him somewhere now, as he's been beaten twice, but that's not going to be straightforward."
RaceBets Derby Trial Stakes (Listed)
£60,000 added, 3yo only, 1m 3f 133y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (4) | Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) 2/1f | R L Moore 9-0 |
A P O'Brien | 3 | |
| 2nd | (2) | 2¼ | Pablo Escobarr (IRE) 6/1 | James Doyle 9-0 |
W J Haggas | 3 |
| 3rd | (3) | 1¾ | Nate The Great 16/1 | Hollie Doyle 9-0 |
Archie Watson | 3 |
| 4th | (5) | 1¼ | Cap Francais 9/4 | G Mosse 9-0 |
Ed Walker | 3 |
| 5th | (6) | 2½ | Ranch Hand 20/1 | David Probert 9-0 |
A M Balding | 3 |
| 6th | (7) | nk | Eagles By Day (IRE) 7/1 | D Tudhope 9-0 |
M L W Bell | 3 |
| 7th | (1) | ½ | Severance 20/1 | George Downing 9-0 |
M R Channon | 3 |
| 8th | (8) | 1¾ | Hiroshima 50/1 | B Doyle 9-0 |
J Ryan | 3 |
| 9th | (10) | 3½ | Themaxwecan (IRE) 16/1 | P J McDonald 9-0 |
M Johnston | 3 |
| 10th | (9) | 2¼ | Three Comets (GER) 14/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-0 |
R Varian | 3 |
