15:25 Leopardstown

Sunday 7 May 2023

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 2m 15.57s

(8)

Goldenstatewarrior¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| D

18/1

Won 15-runner maiden at Gowran (9.6f, heavy, 4/1) on debut 19 days ago. Clearly a good prospect and should win more races but whether he's ready for this level of competition, at this stage, remains to be seen.

Form: 1

(3)

Londoner²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

9/1

Useful colt. Winner at Dundalk in October. 35/10, length fourth of 7 to Flight Leader in Prix Noailles at Longchamp (10.4f, soft) 21 days ago. Open to improvement for top yard (also represented by Mohawk Chief and Tower of London) with a tremendous record in this race.

Form: 41-4

(5)

Mohawk Chief^b1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K K Hennessy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 92| C

80/1

Thrice-raced winner. Course winner. 13½ lengths last of 6 to White Birch in Ballysax Stakes at this C&D (heavy, 16/1) 35 days ago. Blinkered for 1st time. Jockey bookings suggest that he's the least fancied of the Ballydoyle trio.

Form: 71-6

(4)

Mr Lincoln¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy

50/1

Twice-raced winner. 40/1, won 15-runner maiden at Cork (8f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Further progress likely now moving up in trip but probably flying too high in this company.

Form: 0-1

(6)

Proud And Regal¹⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 113| C

6/4

Smart colt. Course winner. Career best when winning 7-runner Criterium International at Saint-Cloud (8f, heavy, 29/10) on final 2-y-o start. Will relish this step up in trip and he sets a good standard.

Form: 11321-

(2)

Sprewell⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

8/1

Thrice-raced winner. 13/8, won 4-runner minor event at Naas (8f, heavy) 42 days ago. Up in trip and this well-bred colt doesn't look at all out of place in this line-up.

Form: 42-1

(1)

Tower Of London²³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 96| C

7/2

Twice-raced winner. 2/1, 8¼ lengths last of 5 to Auguste Rodin in Champions Juvenile Stakes at this course (8f, soft). Off 7 months. Improvement anticipated now upped in trip.

Form: 15-

(7)

Up And Under³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Mikey Sheehy| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 104

11/4

Promising individual. ½-length second of 6 to White Birch in Ballysax Stakes at this C&D (heavy, 15/2) 35 days ago. Further progress likely and he's of strong interest.

Form: 3-2

Forecasts

Proud And Regal (6/4), Up And Under (11/4), Tower Of London (7/2), Sprewell (8/1), Londoner (9/1), Goldenstatewarrior (18/1), Mr Lincoln (50/1), Mohawk Chief (80/1)

UP AND UNDER pulled nicely clear of the rest when touched off by White Birch in the C&D Ballysax Stakes last month and, with the promise of more to come from this well-bred and unexposed colt, he is taken to go one better this time. Proud And Regal did nothing wrong during his 2-y-o campaign and will offer stern resistance if ready to roll on this seasonal reappearance. The Aidan O'Brien-trained duo Londoner and Tower of London should both be in the mix, while Sprewell is also accorded respect.