Lingfield Derby Trial

3.10 Lingfield
totesport.com Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3YO only)
Winner £36,900
Pick: Desert Creek

Bullet Train: Lot to like about his one and only run last season (quitely fancied for Derby off the back of that) and was still green when collared in Newbury conditions event; Will need to be better than that, but has yet to achieve his potential and will improve for comeback run.

Captain James Cook: Improved massively for the step up in trip to 12 furlongs (was lame when running over 7f on debut, turf) when just getting better of Behtarini over the AW at Dundalk; From that the runner – up held is strong and he is entitled to come on a lot, but stable still not totally hitting right gears.

Desert Creek: Open to a lot of improvement after his striking debut win in at the Craven meeting last month; That form is working out nicely to say the least and he could easily be group class; in right hands to go on.

Don Carlos: Arguably brings the best form to the table by finishing fourth in the Criterium De Saint Cloud last year on his final start; He needed the run badly on reappearance and can be judged much better than that, although he’s got something to prove after that and is second strong on jockey bookings.

Dubawi Phantom: Won fair maiden in good style (2nd has won since and was thought highly enough to try Group company); Then went on to run well in succession of races (including Craven Stakes) and that form is solid but maybe a little unspectacular.

Hot Prospect: Worth another chance and shouldn’t be judged on his listed failure last time as a 2 year old; Beat the Autumn Stakes winner (form not great) previously and made a good return in good sales race last time; Good enough to win.

Togiak: Has shown a willing attitude on all his starts, particularly his maiden win; Has a hard task on today.

VERDICT: The Ballydoyle team are on a hat – trick In this race and while Captain James Cook and Don Carlos are expected to make a lot of improvement form their debuts, that hasn’t been a deterrent for some of their stable’s runners this week and this is a race where no horse can be totally discounted. Bullet Train will make a lot of improvement form his debut (collared when still green) although he needs to improve off the back of that and the form has been done no favours at all. This is a big step up for DESERT CREEK but he impressed when landing his maiden and may be useful enough to take this.