Horse Power: The Lion In Winter to roar back with victory in the Betfred Derby at Epsom
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For the third year in a row the Ballydoyle maestro's winter ante-post Derby favourite is on a retrieval mission having – like Auguste Rodin in 2024 and City Of Troy 12 months ago – flopped on his seasonal return heading into the Colts' Classic.
The Lion In Winter lost his unbeaten tag on just his third start when only sixth to the reopposing Pride Of Arras, trained by Ralph Beckett, in the Dante Stakes at York last month. Unlike those two stars – who went on to land the Colts' Classic at Epsom despite 2,000 Guineas disappointment – though, The Lion In Winter will not have the assistance of Ryan Moore. He will be riding stable-mate and potential favourite Delacroix after the Dubawi colt made a much smoother return to action with victories in two of the recognised trials for the Derby – the Group Three Ballysax Stakes at the end of March and the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes, formerly the Derrinstown, last month – both of which are run at Leopardstown in Ireland.
READ MORE: Minnie Hauk lands the Betfred Oaks at Epsom
READ MORE: Jan Brueghel crowned a winner in the Coronation Cup at Epsom
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He is sure to go close to victory – along with another Coolmore runner Lambourn, who won one of the other trials – the Chester Vase on the Roodee – but he may have to play second fiddle to his stable-mate The Lion In Winter.
The son of the legendary Sea The Stars – who won the Derby in 2009 – has had injury issues since two stunning successes as a juvenile. Following a Curragh maiden win and then an even better victory in the Group Three Acomb Stakes – when he had subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner, Charlie Appleby's Ruling Court, who is vying for favouritism for a second Classic success, back in third – The Lion In Winter was off the track for the rest of the season and was late coming to hand this year.
He didn't settle in the preliminaries and early in the race in the Dante and was also stopped when making a late move giving him little chance of making a winning return behind the impressive Pride Of Arras. But he is sure to come on plenty for that return and we have seen so many of O'Brien's leading lights improving tremendously after their first run of the season. The Lion In Winter will have to settle better at Epsom, but if he does, he is arguably the horse with the most talent and potential in what is a high-quality 19-strong field for the premier Classic.
Under Colin Keane, he can improve for his return and despite being drawn widest in stall 19 he can get some of the lustre back of his juvenile runs. A case can be made for many in the field including the aforementioned Delacroix, Lambourn, Ruling Court, Pride Of Arras and the last-named's stable-mate Stanhope Gardens. But a chance is taken that The Lion In Winter can roar again and resume his progress with Derby success.
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James Tate's ROYAL DRESS – set to be ridden by Godolphin jockey and Liverpool FC fan William Buick – can go a couple of places better than 12 months ago and win the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Oddschecker) (1pm). The five-year-old mare was third in this mile contest 12 months ago when not getting the clearest of passages. She went on to win a Group Three contest at the Curragh and ran some good races in defeat. She was then third of four in the 1m2½f Group Two Middleton Stakes at York on her seasonal return at York last month. With that run under her belt and dropping back to an extended mile, Royal Dress can score again.
German trainer Peter Shiergen's GEOGRAPHY – set to be ridden by Christophe Soumillon – can back up her recent Group Three win in Dusseldorf with another in the Group Three Betfred Diomed Stakes (1.35pm).
GOLD STAR HERO can take the Betfred 3yo 'Dash' Handicap (2.10pm). Michael Bell's son of Starspangledbanner was unable to land a blow when drawn out wide at Chester's May Festival last month. But on this straighter track, he can be seen to better effect and can land a first win on Turf ahead of chiefly Kevin Ryan's duo Against The Wind and Cape Sovereign.
Robert Cowell's speedy MICHAELA'S BOY has a solid chance of victory in the Aston Martin 'Dash' Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (2.45pm). The five-year-old gelding won a couple of times on the all-weather over the winter but is yet to score on two starts back on Turf this season. He was fourth over course and distance behind the reopposing Spartan Arrow in April and third at Goodwood last month. A generally consistent performer, Michaela's Boy may be able to land a first success on Turf since his debut at Windsor back in April 2022. Others in with a chance in the typically-competitive Dash are Mick Appleby's seven-year-old Blind Beggar, the George Baker-trained Desert Cop and Existent from the Stuart Williams' stable.
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Baker's BEAULD AS BRASS saw his winning run come to an end when third at Newbury last month after four successes this season. But he can bounce back to winning ways in the Encore Lifestyle Northern Dancer Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.15pm).
Andrew Balding's CHARTWELL JOCK – who was third at Ascot last month – can go a couple of places better in the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Lester Piggott Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (5pm). While in the finale, the JRA Tokyo Trophy Handicap (5.40pm), Richard Fahey's STRIKE RED and the Mick Appleby-trained Intervention can both go well with preference just for the former to return to winning ways on his fourth start of the season.
At Musselburgh FIERY LUCY – from the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate of Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell – can build on a recent second at Leopardstown to win the Listed Edinburgh Gin Queen Of Scots British EBF Fillies' Stakes (3.10pm).
Others who can triumph in Scotland are Ed Bethell's course and distance winner I AM ME in the Edinburgh Cup Handicap (3.50pm); another with course and distance form in the past, the Amanda Perrett-trained SIXCOR, in the Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb And Ginger Handicap (1.20pm); John and Sean Quinn's Power Of Gold in the Edinburgh Gin Classic Handicap (1.55pm); and ARRANMORE, from the Micky Hammond stable, in the finale, the Edinburgh Gin Cannonball Handicap (4.55pm).
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At Doncaster Bryan Smart's last-time-out winner CASTAN can go in again in the the Daniel Jones Handicap (5.45pm); and the Mick Appleby-trained BILLYJOH can score in the Happy Birthday Nigel Kirby Handicap (7.15pm).
Wright Ones
EPSOM
1pm Royal Dress
1.35pm Geography
2.10pm Gold Star Hero
2.45pm Michaela's Boy
3.30pm 1 The Lion In Winter (NAP) 2 Delacroix 3 Lambourn
4.15pm Beauld As Brass
5pm Chartwell Jock
5.40pm Strike Red
MUSSELBURGH
1.20pm Sixcor
1.55pm Power Of Gold
2.30pm Alaskan Light
3.10pm Fiery Lucy
3.50pm I Am Me
4.25pm Reservardo
4.55pm Arranmore
DONCASTER
4pm Kodi Red
4.35pm Calafrio
5.10pm Light The Night Up
5.45pm Castan
6.15pm Pole Star
6.45pm Brave Bob
7.15pm Billyjoh
7.50pm Churchella
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WORCESTER
1.50pm Bruce Gobbler
2.25pm Ile De Jersey
3.05pm Leading Force
3.45pm Son Of Tyran
4.20pm Dynamite Defense
4.50pm Three Figs
5.25pm Sporty Jim
5.55pm Leave Her To Me
LINGFIELD
5.30pm Synergism
6.07pm Special Ghaiyyath
6.37pm Salamanca City
7.07pm Momaer
7.40pm Fulford Cross
8.10pm Blue Collar Lad
8.40pm Queen Of Good News
CHEPSTOW
5.30pm Moe's Legacy
6pm Sinj
6.30pm Indian Spirit
7pm Redredrobin
7.30pm Alice's Impact
8pm King of The Dance
8.30pm Vape
9pm Red Derek
HEXHAM
4.05pm Present Fair
4.40pm Grand Voyage
5.15pm Sean Og
5.50pm Mancero
6.20pm Mack The Man
6.50pm Our Sam
SUNDAY'S NAP: Alcazan (Goodwood 5.20pm)
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