The Premier Raceday meeting today is at Lingfield Park. The Surrey track hosts its big day headlined by their Derby Trial (16h00) and Oaks Trial, both sponsored by Willliam Hill.
A sunny day is forecast so track conditions are likely to remain good to firm.
Aidan O’Brien dominated Chester’s Derby and Oaks Trials earlier this week, and that trend looks set to continue on Saturday.
Puppet Master and Stay True represent the Ballydoyle team and they head the betting in the Derby Trial with the Ryan Moore ridden Puppet Master favourite in the seven strong field.
Puppet Master, a son of 2012 Derby hero Camelot, brings the strongest form to the race having placed at Group 2 level over a mile as a juvenile. The lightly raced colt was having only his fourth start on his seasonal reappearance when placed in the Ballysax behind his well-regarded stablemate Delacroix who co-incidentally runs on Sunday in a Leopardstown Derby Trial (15h30).
Puppet Master was running on nicely in the Ballysax when fourth, two places behind Lambourn who won the Gr3 Chester Vase at Chester on Wednesday, confirming the form. He looks hard to beat.
The only question mark is his stablemate Stay True. One of the last crop of the mighty Galileo, he won a Leopardstown maiden in good style last month. This listed race is a big step up in class, but it is interesting that the Irish maestro has entered him here. Richard Kingscote rides.
Prince of The Seas trained by Ralph Beckett looked useful when winning a typically strong Sandown maiden over a mile last season. He needs to improve on his seasonal debut when fifth in the Epsom Blue Riband Trial last month, but this son of Sea The Stars looks the type that will improve for the run.
Earlier on the card only three fillies line up for the Oaks Trial (14h15). The Ballydoyle trained Giselle looks a standout here based on official ratings.
The daughter of Frankel was an easy winner of a Curragh maiden in October last year before placing over the same course and distance at Group 3 level behind her stablemate Whirl.
Ryan Moore rode Giselle on that occasion and stays aboard on Saturday over the more suitable distance of a mile and a half.
