Twice Over yesterday became the latest Derby hopeful to fall by the wayside when Henry Cecil's hitherto unbeaten colt lost his 100 per cent record in pretty convincing fashion as he trailed home a well beaten third behind Tartan Bearer in York's Dante Stakes.
Sent off odds-on for what is considered the most significant Blue Riband trial of them all, Ted Durcan's mount travelled well for much of the way but when push came to shove, was found wanting. So much so that in the few minutes it took the Dante
to be run, Twice Over went from Derby favourite to likely non-runner in the big race.
"I am not blaming the ground as all the others went on it. He came there and emptied out and was disappointing really," admitted Cecil. "Whether he needs to come back in distance or not I don't know. It is up to (owner) Prince Khalid Abdullah, but I don't think he will run in the Derby after that."
Not so Tartan Bearer, who perhaps justified connections' decision to run him on the Knavesmire rather than send the Spectrum colt to Hamilton this evening for a stab at the Glasgow Stakes.
Albeit you would have to ask yourself if anything could ever surpass having a winner on the hallowed turf of the Lanarkshire track. Several bookmakers immediately promoted Tartan Bearer to the head of their Derby markets with Stoute's other possible contenders, Dr Fremantle and Tajaaweed quoted at 8-1 and 10-1 respectively.
"We have got three nice middle-distance colts and I was very, very pleased with this fellow, it showed just how progressive he is," said the Newmarket handler. "That will have sharpened him up a bit and I think he goes to Epsom with a solid chance.
"If you were any more than hopeful, it would be a little bit unwise but he has really progressed so well."
History is certainly on the side of Tartan Bearer with three of the last four Derby winners having landed the Dante on route to Epsom glory, 2004 hero North light, who runs in the same Ballymacoll Stud colours as yesterday's winner, among them.
"Until now, the only similarity between North Light and this fellow is that they were both foaled in March and both born in the same box but if Sir Michael thinks he's an Epsom horse, then he is an Epsom horse," said spokesman Peter Reynolds.
If Tartan Bearer's success momentarily shed some much needed light on the Derby picture, however, punters didn't have to wait too long to be plunged back into the gloom with Casual Conquest's owners indicating they're prepared to pay the £75,000 to supplement their colt for the Vodafone sponsored contest should trainer Dermot Weld give his seal of approval.
An impressive six-length winner of last Sunday's Derrinstown Stud Trial at Leopardstown, Casual Conquest was installed as Derby favourite following that performance even though he's not actually entered in the race.
"He still has his options open and it's a possibility to go to Epsom, but he's just had the two runs and he might just be a little inexperienced," explained Stan Cosgrove, manager of owners Moyglare Stud Farm.
At Scone yesterday,
Irish raiders took home a fair amount of the prize money on offer courtesy of Carrick Dhu, Paradise Bay and Schofield but Borders based Harriet Graham managed to keep some of it in Scotland when saddling Russian Sky to victory while Storm Prospect helped Lucinda Russell follow up her double from Tuesday.
Today's nap goes on Rash Judgement who was only out of the first three once as a juvenile and made a highly satisfactory re-appearance when third at Sandown last month. With Ryan Moore to help him, the best bet can build on that in York's five furlong handicap.
The full article contains 646 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
