Lion tamed but O'Brien says "he could turn into a totally different horse"

For the third year in succession Aidan O’Brien could bid to turn disappointment into Betfred Derby glory, with The Lion In Winter very much still in the mix for Epsom despite failing to fire in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

The Ballydoyle handler knows better than anyone what it takes to win the premier Classic, having saddled the winner on a record ten occasions, and domination of the spring trials left him well placed to add to his tally in early June.

But the horse that was top of ante-post lists had not been seen since last summer, with a spring setback meaning The Lion In Winter missed out on a tilt at the 2000 Guineas and was instead rerouted to the Knavesmire 12 days later.

O’Brien had warned the Sea The Stars colt’s race against time to be fit for York had only just been won and significant improvement was anticipated, but that did not stop punters coming for him late and he was an 8-11 favourite by the time Britain’s leading Derby trial got under way.

Making his first appearance since winning August’s Acomb Stakes at the track, The Lion In Winter was quickly into his stride and pulled fiercely for his head during the early exchanges before eventually consenting to settle in the hands of Ryan Moore.

However, it was clear from halfway up the straight that his early exertions had taken their toll and he was unable to land a telling blow, passing the post in sixth place.

O’Brien said: “Ryan was very happy. He said he jumped out and he was a bit keen and a bit fresh, but when he did get him back he relaxed very well.

“He said he had to come out earlier than he wanted as they were coming around him and he probably got a little bit tired because it was his first run, but he was very positive about him.”

If The Lion In Winter were trained by almost any other trainer, punters could be forgiven for putting their Derby tickets in the bin and Paddy Power reacted by pushing him out to 5-1 from 11-4, with his stablemate Delacroix now leading the way at 9-4.

However, his supporters do not need to go back too far for proof that O’Brien is capable of near miracles, with his last two Derby heroes – Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy – both putting lacklustre performances in the 2000 Guineas behind them to emerge triumphant on the Surrey Downs.

Of The Lion In Winter, he continued: “He did it well to make it here. He wouldn’t have made it to any trial other than here because we wouldn’t have had the time, so he was just ready to come racing and maybe that’s why he was a bit fresh.

“Ryan said the ground probably couldn’t be quick enough for him and he rides like a horse with a lot of class and a lot of speed, and we just have to decide now do we go to Epsom or does he go to a French Derby or what does he do?

“The long and the short of it and what is going to tell us is how he is in a week. When we start working him again we’ll see how he is – he could turn into a totally different horse.

“The good thing is Ryan was very positive and this horse is going to make a lot of improvement from today, we knew that before we came here. He’s not just going to improve, he’s going to make a lot of improvement, and you can probably see why I was thinking that after seeing him run.

“If he jumped out and did everything right he might have got away with it, but he didn’t do anything right.”

Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby is respectful of the challenge O’Brien is likely to mount as 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court goes for  Derby glory.

The Godolphin-owned son of Justify dazzled at Newmarket in the opening Classic of the season and is as short as 3-1 for Epsom on June 7, but his Moulton Paddocks handler is more than wary of the host of Ballydoyle contenders that lie in wait, including big-race favourite Delacroix, winner of the Ballysax and Leopardstown Derby Trial.

“I couldn’t be any happier with how Ruling Court has come out of the Guineas and as we stand we’re firmly on target to head straight to the Derby,” said Appleby.

“I thought Delacroix in Ireland looked visually impressive at the weekend. At the end of the day, people can mock trials all they like but they are the best around and you have to respect them all.

“Aidan is mopping the trials up at the moment and they will all stay a mile and a half on evidence, most of those, which is a contributing factor in the Derby as we all know.”