Changingoftheguard slashed for Derby after Chester Vase romp

Changingoftheguard surged into the Derby picture with a thoroughly impressive display in the Boodles ChesterVase.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien had saddled a record nine previous winners of the Group Three contest, with his Ruler Of The World the last horse to follow up at Epsom in 2013.

O’Brien already houses the ante-post favourite for the premier Classic in the form of Saturday’s 2000 Guineas third Luxembourg.

And while the previously unbeaten New London was the colt expected to emerge as perhaps Luxembourg’s biggest threat with victory on the Roodee, Changingoftheguard had other ideas.

Sent straight to the lead by Ryan Moore, the 100-30 chance soon built up a handy buffer over Charlie Appleby’s prohibitively priced 4-11 shot New London.

It was clear from before the home turn that the market leader was struggling to bridge the gap and Changingoftheguard galloped all the way up the straight to pass the post six and a half lengths clear.

Betfair and Paddy Power slashed the winner’s Derby odds to 8-1 from 50-1, while New London is out to 14-1 from 5s.

“He was impressive there and we always thought he’d stay well,” said O’Brien.

“He was just chinned in his maiden at Punchestown before he then went and won his maiden really well at Dundalk.

“There was no doubt on our part that he would take a step forward from that and improve for going up in trip.

“The one thing we weren’t sure about today was the ground when it rained as he’s such a fluid mover, but he seems to have handled it fine.

“We were delighted with the run and I think off the back of that, you’d have to say he’d go to Epsom now.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said of the runner-up and 4-11 Favourite New London: “He just never got into it for whatever reason. Will said he couldn’t put his finger on it, whether it was the ground or the track. It’s back to the drawing board and there are a couple more trials to go. We don’t want to blame the track or the ground, we were beaten by the better horse on the day.”

Jockey William Buick added: “The winner piled it on from the front and stayed at it. I’m sure the winner is a decent horse, this lad has got a lot to learn still.”

Royal Patronage could bid to reignite the Derby dreams of his connections in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York next week.

Trained by Mark and Charlie Johnston, the Wootton Bassett colt won three times as a juvenile last season, including a narrow verdict over Saturday’s 2000 Guineas hero Coroebus in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket.

Royal Patronage renewed rivalry with Coroebus in the season’s first Classic, but after setting a fierce gallop for much of the way, he gave way late on and passed the post in eighth place.

Harry Herbert, managing director for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: “Sadly he went way too quick. The fractions were crazy for him and he was never going to get home with those fractions.

“Thankfully he’s come back all right and he’s obviously very fresh. He virtually anticipated the gates opening and it was very hard for Jason (Hart) after that.

“He still ran very well and proved he has trained on, but it was absolutely not what we wanted to happen. We wanted him to travel with horses in front of him and finish his race off, not the other way round.”

The Derby was always viewed as Royal Patronage’s chief target and Herbert is hoping he can get his season back on track on the Knavesmire.

He added: “I would say it would be very likely he will run in the Dante and we’ll see if we can get it right because he’s a very talented colt and we need to find out more with regards to the Derby.

“The Dante does come up quick, I totally appreciate that, but the horse is in very good hands and speaking to Charlie Johnston we’re both singing off the same hymn sheet, but it’s entirely their call as regards the well-being of the horse.”

Royal Patronage is one of two potential Derby runners for the Highclere team along with the William Haggas-trained Lysander.

Third on his only start at two at Newbury in the autumn, the son of New Approach opened his account in some style on his reappearance at Newcastle last week.

He holds an entry in this weekend’s Lingfield Derby Trial and will either test his Derby credentials there or in the Cocked Hat at Goodwood later in the month.

“He’ll either go to Lingfield or wait for the Cocked Hat. It’s completely William’s call and it depends which way round William wants to do it,” said Herbert.

“Do you run back quick after his very impressive race at Newcastle, or give him more time and run in the Cocked Hat? And let’s say he won at Goodwood, well then he’s still got two weeks until the Derby.”

He added: “We’re very excited about him. This horse has worked exceptionally well at home, he’s the most beautiful individual and has a wonderful pedigree.

“He’s got ticks in a lot of the right boxes and both Tom Marquand and Michael Hills have ridden him at home and been very impressed with him. He’s turned a few heads, so we’ll see. It’s a fair way to go from winning a novice at Newcastle to lining up in a Derby, but at the moment that’s the plan.”

Team Eydon will be keeping a close eye on the plethora of trials taking place on both sides of the Channel over the next few weeks as they plot their next move for the Qipco 2000 Guineas fourth.

The Olden Times colt headed into the first Classic of the season on the back of an impressive win in the Feilden Stakes during the Craven meeting and proved he belonged at Group One level when outrunning his odds of 33-1.

A move up in trip is now on the cards with both the Cazoo Derby and Prix du Jockey Club under consideration, but owner Prince Faisal’s racing manager Ted Voute suggests they will not be in a rush to make a decision on his next destination, with the owner set to make the final call.

“We have not really decided what the next move is, but that is going to be the Prince’s decision as it has been the last two runs. It was his call to run in the Feilden and it was him who said let’s go for the Guineas and he has run a great race,” said Voute.

“The Prince has said there’s no rush to make a decision, we’ll see how he comes out of the race because it was quite fast ground, but he seems to have coped with it all fine.”

He went on: “He probably needs a bit further than a mile, but looking where we finished, he’s got the Derby favourite (Luxembourg) not far in front of us and we are bred along a stamina line. He’s in the English Derby and he’s in the French Derby, they are one day apart and both will be under consideration.

“I think the smart thing to do is sit and watch what comes out of all the trials and see where the best place is for Eydon to run a big race.”