Derby Countdown

The so-called trials for next month's G1 Investec Derby at Epsom are now flashing by with some rapidity - and still the race regarded as the most influential in world racing appears wide open.

Yesterday's G3 Chester Vase rather clouded matters, as the Ballydoyle stablemates US Army Ranger and Port Douglas were separated by only a short head, with a gap of seven lengths back to third Ormito.

The winner, though clearly talented, did not seem as advanced as the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Midterm, the Sandown Classic Trial winner, who now goes for the G2 Dante Stakes at York. By the end of next week, a definitive pecking order will have been established.

Godolphin are represented in three established Derby trials over the next three days.

The John Gosden-trained Linguistic heads for Friday's Listed Dee Stakes at Chester, coming off the back of a fine Newmarket win in the Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Winning Story, the winner of a Newmarket maiden on his
only outing, steps up in class in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial, while on Sunday, the Jim Bolger-trained Moonlight Magic attempts to put behind him his disappointing last start fifth in the G3 Ballysax Stakes when contesting the G3 Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

Young horses can improve quickly at this time of the year, and Godolphin will be looking for all three contenders to step up on previous efforts.