Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 2m 8.88s

(6)

Agitare²³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 100| BF

7/1

Still a maiden after five starts; ran to a good level in 1m Group 2 here as a juvenile when beaten just 3L but disappointed back in a maiden here on final start of 2019. Needs to have improved plenty to play a part here.

Form: 22433-

(5)

Cormorant^b1²²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 95| C

12/1

Cost plenty as a yearling and got off the mark at the second attempt when winning a 1m maiden here. However, couldn't land a blow in a Group 2 next time out and beaten a Chelmsford in a four-runner race last time; first-time blinkers on.

Form: 4152-

(1)

Iberia^b1²³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

5/2

Curragh winner on debut. Highly tried in Group company on four subsequent starts and ran well in defeat on his latest outing here; more needed but likely to improve for this step up in trip; wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 17532-

(3)

Russian Emperor⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

11/8

Third in a Curragh maiden on debut and narrowly got up in a subsequent Naas maiden. Didn't have it all his own way that day so probably worth upgrading that effort and there's every chance he will appreciate this longer trip; yard's first string.

Form: 3-1

(2)

Sunchart²⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen| T: A Slattery| OR: 95

9/2

Narrowly denied in a promising debut effort and made no mistake well bolting up at Tipperary in October. While that's not the strongest form, he rates as a nice propsect and might be capable of hitting the frame.

Form: 21-

Non-Runners

(4)

Baby Zeus²⁹⁰

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: G M Lyons J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

Russian Emperor (11/8), Iberia (5/2), Sunchart (9/2), Agitare (7/1), Cormorant (12/1), Baby Zeus (12/1)

Aidan O'Brien has won five of the last nine renewals of this race and RUSSIAN EMPEROR looks the most interesting of his candidates this time around. He was impressive at Naas on latest start and the son of Galileo can only improve for this longer distance. His two stablemates aren't without a chance, particularly Iberia who acquitted himself well in Group company as a juvenile. Sunchart looks like a nice prospect and his chance shouldn't be underestimated.