A field of nine has been declared for the Listed William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield Park on Saturday.
Nine winners of the Lingfield Derby Trial have gone on to Derby glory at Epsom. Aidan O’Brien, who has won the race on six occasions including in 2022 with United Nations and in 2019 with eventual Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, has declared both Illinois and The Euphrates for Saturday’s feature.
Current race favourite, Illinois, finished third on his seasonal reappearance in Ireland in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown having also come third in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October as a two-year-old.
Roger Varian and Highclere Racing will be represented by Defiance, who recently caught the eye when finishing a running-on second to Bellum Justum in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Downs two weeks ago, on his first start of the campaign.
Karl Burke will be double-handed, with Arabic Legend and Imperial Sovereign both declared, whilst At Vimeiro and Salamanca will both line up for Jane Chapple Hyam.
Ambient Friendly for James Fanshawe and Meydaan for Simon and Ed Crisford will complete the line up.
Seven have been declared for the Listed William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes earlier on Saturday’s card.
John Gosden has won this race four-times and, like O’Brien in the Derby Trial, was responsible for the last horse to win at Lingfield before taking the Oaks, with Anapurna winning both races in 2019. He won the race again with Miss Yoda a year later. This year Gosden (now joint-trainer, with his son Thady) will be represented by Danielle, who will be looking to further her classic credentials following a hugely impressive victory at Wetherby last time out.
Ralph Beckett will be doubly represented with Treasure, owned by the King and Queen, and You Got To Me.
Aidan O'Brien saddles Rubies Are Red, who has just two career starts to her name, with Molten Rock, Cherry Burton and Bigtime Bridget completing the field.
