Godolphin-owned Arabian Crown, who is as short as 12/1 for the Epsom Derby at the start of June, has been declared for Sandown’s Group 3 Classic Trial on Friday as connections ramp up their preparations for later in the season. The son of Dubawi is a clear favourite for Friday’s contest after a number of strong performances as a juvenile.
Arabian Crown won both at Listed and Group 3 level last season, easily winning Salisbury’s Stonehenge Stakes before an even more comfortable success in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket over 1m2f. That trip proved he is likely to have the requisite stamina to compete strongly over middle distances this term.
However, of the field of nine, six of the runners also boast entries in Epsom’s 1m4f Classic. Ballydoyle run one of their seemingly less stellar names in Portland to test the waters here, with Macduff set to carry the Juddmonte silks for Ralph Beckett. War Rooms, Matsuri and Prince Rasam will all be bidding to boost their outside claims for the Derby as well.
The other trio, Remaadd, Under The Sun and Dunstan do not yet hold entries for the fourth British Classic of the season. However, good performances here could yet persuade connections to supplement them up against red hot favourite City Of Troy.
Classic Trial Odds
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Best Odds |
| Arabian Crown | Charlie Appleby | William Buick | 11/8 |
| Macduff | Ralph Beckett | Rossa Ryan | 5/1 |
| War Rooms | Owen Burrows | Jim Crowley | 6/1 |
| Portland | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore | 10/1 |
| Remaadd | William Haggas | Tom Marquand | 10/1 |
| Matsuri | Roger Varian | James Doyle | 25/1 |
| Prince Rasam | Michael Bell | Callum Shepherd | 25/1 |
| Under The Sun | Hugo Palmer | Oisin Murphy | 40/1 |
| Dunstan | Barry Brennan | David Probert | 100/1 |