The 2019 Investec Derby: how the traditional trials for Epsom unfolded

We have got all the pieces of the Investec Derby jigsaw, but are we anywhere nearer putting them all together and coming up with a clear picture?

Here’s how all the traditional trials have unfolded in recent weeks.

April 24: Investec Blue Riband Trial

Distance: 1m 2f. Going: good to firm. Runners: 7

Winner: CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (trained by Aidan O’Brien)

You have to go back 80 years to the last time a Blue Riband Trial winner (Blue Peter) went on to triumph in the main event.

But Cracksman went close to the double in 2017 and a year earlier the classy So Mi Dar triumphed and, after following up in the Musidora, was a short price to win the Oaks before being ruled out by injury.

Winners automatically gain qualification to the Derby and connections of Telecaster and Sir Dragonet perhaps missed a trick. Effectively, winning the race would have been worth £113,000 to them, whereas the Dante Stakes carried a purse of £93,000, and the Chester Vase £56,000.

Anyway, I digress. Cape Of Good Hope, brother of the brilliant Highland Reel, was an unspectacular half-length winner from Cap Francais, with Turgenev another three-quarters of a length behind in third.

The placed horses have since suffered much heavier defeats in subsequent trials, suggesting Cape Of Good Hope is up against it. But at least we know the track will hold no terrors to him.

Derby odds: Cape Of Good Hope has been switched to the French Derby.

April 26. Bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown

Distance: 1m2f. Going: good to firm. Runners: 6

Winner: BANGKOK (Andrew Balding)

Bangkok was sent off the 10-11 favourite and won in decisive fashion by a length and a quarter from Technician.

The runner-up might have given the winner more to think about with a clearer run but there is little doubt the winner, who had previously lost his maiden tag at Doncaster at the main expense of Telecaster (more of him later), was the best horse on the day.

Persian Mood, rated 102 going into the race, was beaten just under two lengths and, typically, seemed to run his race. His proximity to Bangkok suggests the winner will need plenty more at Epsom, for all he was not fully extended here and is bred to appreciate moving up in distance.

Shahrastani (1986) was the last horse to win the Classic Trial before going on to Derby glory, although Benny The Dip won at Epsom after being second at Sandown in 1997. And in 2013, Libertarian and Galileo Rock were placed in the Derby after being beaten in it.

Derby odds: Bangkok 8-1 (quoted at 16-1 after winning at Sandown)

Date: May 4. Race: Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket

Distance: 1m. Going: good. Runners: 19

Winner: MAGNA GRECIA (Aidan O’Brien)

Magna Grecia was quoted as short as 3-1 for the Derby after his emphatic success, only for Aidan O’Brien to swiftly rule out the prospect of him emulating such as Sea The Stars (2009) and Camelot (2012).

King Of Change chased him home up the favoured stands’ side, with Skardu and Madhmoon faring best of those who raced down the middle of the track.

The Guineas form invariably holds up and Masar, third in it last year, went on to win the premier Classic at Epsom. Australia (third in the 2014 Guineas), New Approach (second in 2008), Sir Percy (second in 2006), Generous (fourth in 1991) have been among other Derby winners who were beaten at Headquarters.

That will give connections of Madhmoon hope, as they venture into the unknown, although on pedigree he is not guaranteed to be so effective over an extra half of a mile.

Derby odds: Madhmoon 14-1

Date: May 8. Race: MBNA Chester Vase at Chester

Distance: 1m 4f. Going: good to soft. Runners: 7

Winner: SIR DRAGONET (Aidan O’Brien)

Sir Dragonet had a bit of a wow factor about him as he powered clear in the straight to win by eight lengths, just a couple of weeks after he had made a winning debut at Tipperary when a weak 14-1 chance.

The Camelot colt was in a different league to his rivals, although the winning time was nothing special (even allowing for the ground, which Timeform assessed as soft) and there is a suspicion the race rather fell in his lap after he had spent the first half of the race loitering in last place.

Norway, his better-fancied stablemate, chased him home. Winner of the Zetland Stakes as a juvenile, got warm beforehand and could only plug on at the one pace in his first-time cheekpieces.

Front-running Dashing Willoughby, who faded to finish third, possibly did a bit too much, too soon (plus might not have stayed), while the rest simply did not get home in the conditions or were off colour.

O’Brien’s Vase runners should not be underestimated at Epsom.

Treasure Beach won the 2011 renewal before being pipped at Epsom, while Ruler Of The World did the double in 2013. US Army Ranger won in 2016 and was then second at Epsom, while Wings Of Eagles was runner-up in 2017 and then went one better on the Downs.

Derby odds: Sir Dragonet 3-1 (he was 50-1 before running at Chester) Norway 50-1.

May 9: Homeserve Dee Stakes at Chester

Distance: 1m 2f. Going: good to soft. Runners: 6

Winner: CIRCUS MAXIMUS (Aidan O’Brien)

The official going on the day was good to soft but Timeform assessed it as heavy. The winning time was at least four seconds slower than the previous three winners had recorded.

Circus Maximus arrived with the best form and justified favouritism under Ryan Moore, but he was workmanlike, at best, in keeping his stablemate, Mohawk, at bay by a length and a quarter. The runner-up, winner of the Royal Lodge at two, was conceding 5lb and not subjected to a hard ride.

O’Brien and Moore both defended the winner, suggesting the son of Galileo is not one to over-exert himself.

Fox Chairman was another two lengths behind in third but his effort was worth marking up as he didn’t get the run of the race and, in addition, Silvestre De Sousa reported that he did not enjoy the ground.

Derby odds: Circus Maximum 14-1

May 11: RaceBets Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield

Distance: 1m 4f. Going: soft. Runners: 10

Winner: ANTHONY VAN DYCK (Aidan O’Brien)

Anthony Van Dyck officially had at least 15lb in hand of his rivals but he was easy to back on his return, perhaps amid fears about his readiness and stamina (by Galileo but speedily bred on the dam’s side of his pedigree).

As it transpired, his backers never had much to worry about as he travelled well and quickly put the 92-rated Pablo Escobarr in his place. The winning margin was two and a quarter lengths, with Nate The Grate and Cap Francais the next pair home.

The bare form is clearly nothing special, at least in terms of winning a Derby, and the time was sluggish, but Anthony Van Dyck could do no more than beat what he was up against and his form as a two-year-old had substance.

High-Rise (1998) was the last Lingfield Derby Trial winner to go on to win at Epsom and O’Brien’s four previous winners of the race went on to finish no closer than sixth in the big one. Indeed, none of them ever won again.

Derby odds: Anthony Van Dyck 5-1 (initially 9-1 after winning at Lingfield)

May 12: Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown

Distance: 1m 2f. Going: good to yielding. Runners: 7

Winner: BROOME (Aidan O’Brien)

A case of the further the better for Broome, who swept through rom off the pace (no pun intended) to win going away from his stablemates Blenheim Palace and Sovereign after it briefly looked like he had been caught out of his ground. Sent off at 2-5, he traded at 2-1 in-running on Betfair.

It had been a similar story in the Ballysax Stakes, when the Australia colt, touched off in the Group Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as a two-year-old, was again strong at the finish.

The extra two furlongs on June 1 promises to play to his strengths but will he be quick enough?

This form has holes in it with the exposed Blenheim Palace having previously won a handicap off a mark of just 76. And Sovereign, eight lengths adrift in the Ballysax, was beaten only three lengths on this occasion.

O’Brien’s first two Derby winners, Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), won this contest en route but since then it has not yielded an Epsom winner.

Derby odds: Broome 4-1

May 16: Al Basti Equiworld Dante Stakes at York

Distance: 1m 2f. Going: good to firm. Runners: 8

Winner: TELECASTER (Hughie Morrison)

On paper, this looked easily the most competitive of all the Derby trials but it did not quite deliver what it promised.

It was a little unsatisfactory, Turgenev and Telecaster racing in a clear lead and ending up at an advantage.

The former faded but Telecaster kept galloping and had enough reserves of energy to repel Too Darn Hot by a length. The runner-up, the champion two-year-old of 2018, was making a belated return after a setback in the spring and his connections instantly said he would drop back to a mile.

Surfman was beaten five lengths into third, unable to get in contention the way it unfolded, with the O’Brien challenger, Japan, plugging on to be another three quarters of a length away in fourth. He had been friendless in the betting, with connections stating he would need the run.

Line Of Duty, Godolphin’s principal Derby hope, trailed home a below-par seventh on his return.

Benny The Dip (1997), North Light (2004), Authorized (2007), Workforce (2010) and Golden Horn (2015) have all been Dante winners to follow up at Epsom.

Derby: Telecaster 5-1 (was 25-1 before York). Surfman 14-1. Japan 10-1 (the last-named began May a general 6-1 chance and was pushed out to 16-1 after the Dante, only to then shorten again). Line Of Duty 33-1.