Lingfield plays host to the Epsom Derby and Oaks Trials this weekend with a host of Classic contenders looking to cement their credentials before lining up at Epsom in June. The Derby Trial itself has thrown up two of the last three winners of Epsom’s most prestigious event and our expert editor has picked out two runners to watch out for on Saturday afternoon. Check out their thoughts below alongside SBK‘s new customer offer of Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets.
Lionel – 14:40 (SBK Derby Trial Stakes, 1m 3f 133y)
Retired Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight provided trainer David Menuisier with several memorable moments last season including when taking the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. The trainer will be hoping for another star to shine this campaign and although LIONEL has yet to get his head in front in two starts for connections, the three-year-old has displayed enough ability in his two outings to suggest he could be a real flag-bearer for the yard this season.
Out of Lope De Vega, the well-bred colt made an eye-catching introduction at Newbury as a juvenile last October. Racing over a mile, he was slowly away under jockey Jamie Spencer but despite that tardy start, Lionel made significant headway towards the outside of the ten-runner field and was only narrowly denied in the closing stages by Roger Charlton’s runner Zain Nights.
Returning to the Berkshire track following a 176 day break, Lionel stepped up to eleven furlongs for the first time. Restless in the preliminaries, David Menuisier’s charge was again one of the slowest into stride, however, once settled, the colt fairly rattled home under hands and heels riding – suggesting that there was plenty left in the tank as he crossed the line in third place behind Natural World.
With plenty of stamina influences in his pedigree, Lionel should relish the slight increase in trip this weekend and although he remains the outsider of the five-runner contest, it shouldn’t be long before the three-year-old gets off the mark and the colt remains an exciting prospect for the season ahead.
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Mystic Wells – 15:15 (SBK Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes, 1m 3f 133y)
Emily Dickinson will prove popular amongst punters after the recent run of form of trainer Aidan O’Brien this past week, while John & Thady Gosden will be confident Belt Buckle can follow up her Wolverhampton victory back in February and provide the yard with yet another victory in this particular contest.
However, despite their obvious credentials towards the head of the market, the vote on this occasion goes to MYSTIC WELLS who can provide Newmarket trainer George Boughey with another notable weekend winner.
The three-year-old filly was highly tried during her juvenile campaign last year for connections, contesting a deep Class 2 maiden at Newmarket on debut before getting off the mark in fine style when switched to the all-weather on her following outing. Returning to Newmarket last October, Mystic Wells rounded off her two-year-old season with a creditable effort in the Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes despite being unsuited by how the race ultimately developed.
George Boughey’s filly only found the progressive After The Rain too good on her seasonal return last month, however, she made no mistake at Brighton on her following start, registering her second career success after gamely fending off the challenge of Enfranchise to prevail by a head.
Whilst the three-year-old faces some interesting and unexposed rivals this weekend, Mystic Wells has plenty of experience to rely upon and given the fact she has clearly been held in high regard since day one, connections will be hoping she can continue to progress this year and pick up some valuable black type along the way.
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