Horse Power: Bolshoi Ballet can dance to Derby success at Epsom

Bolshoi Ballet can dance to Cazoo Derby (4.30pm) success at Epsom on Saturday afternoon.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is always the main man when it comes to the Classics and despite having only runner this year, he has the most likely winner in Bolshoi Ballet.

The Ballydoyle maestro has won the Group One Classic a record eight times including three of the last five runnings.

His first choice hasn’t always triumphed, including front-runner Serpentine 12 months ago and 50-1 outsider Wings Of Eagles. But on this occasion he only has favourite Bolshoi Ballet and he can come out on top.

He has the perfect profile for a Derby winner, being a son of supersire and 2001 Epsom hero Galileo.

After one win in three juvenile starts, Bolshoi Ballet has followed the same route to Epsom as his sire did.

The three-year-old colt, like Galileo, won the Group Three Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown comfortably before running out a wide-margin winner of the Group Three Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at the same course last month.

He had subsequent Irish 1,000 Guineas hero and Derby rival Mac Swiney nearly seven lengths back that day at Leopardstown and following that impressive success has been a short-priced favourite for Epsom.

Although the Ballysax-Derrinstown route – also taken by Derby winners Sinndar and another O’Brien star High Chaparral either side of Galileo’s success at the turn of the millennium – hasn’t been used by recent Epsom scorers, the way Bolshoi Ballet has progressed this year means he can follow in the hoofprints of those illustrious stars.

He travels well, gallops and will stay the 1m4f distance and although he will be making his debut at the unique Epsom track, he looks to have all the attributes to win the Derby and potentially be one of the best Classis stars of recent years.

The winners of the other Trials at Chester, Lingfield and York – Youth Spirit, Third Realm and Godolphin’s Hurricance Lane – all have chances of being in the shake-up after Bolshoi Ballet’s stable-mate High Definition was taken out of the race at the final declaration stage.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Hurricane Lane, to be ridden by Liverpool FC fan William Buick, may get closest to Bolshoi Ballet. While Ed Dunlop’s John Leeper, who won a Listed contest at Newmarket, could be a potential improver and may also make the frame.

Maximal (right) finishing second to El Drama (left, yellow) in The tote+ Biggest Dividends At tote.co.uk Dee Stakes at the 2021 Boodles May Festival at Chester Racecourse on May 6 2021 Picture by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

It’s another hugely-competitive running of the World Pool “Dash” Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (3.45pm) and Yimou may be the answer.

Former winners Caspain Prince and Duke Of Firenze can both go well despite now being 12-year-olds, while Copper Knight, Rose Hip and Recon Mission are in good form and are others to consider.

But the Dean Ivory-trained Yimou can build on his recent third in a five-furlong handicap at Newmarket to go close.

The six-year-old has a decent draw in stall eight and has plenty going for him. He can reach the frame and may just come out on top.

With Sir Michael Stoute-trained Maximal now a non-runner the Simon and Ed Crisford trained Century Dream can win the Group Three Cazoo Diomed Stakes (3.10pm).

The seven-year-old won this race in 2018 and in 2020 when it was run at Newbury. He also landed the Group Two Celebration at Goodwood last August. Although he was down the field on his return in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, he can bounce back to complete a hat-trick of wins.

Maamora, under Buick, can win the Group Three Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Cazoo) (Fillies & Mares) (2.35pm).

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, the five-year-old was fifth of six on her seasonal return at Goodwood last month. That will have put him spot on for this and she can score.

King Frankel (right) finishing second to Bay Bridge (left, red/blue cap) in the BetVictor London Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, May 15 2021 Picture by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

King Frankel can win the World Pool At The tote Handicap (2pm).

Mark Johnston’s three-year-old has only one win from six career starts, but he has been runner-up four times, including on his most recent start behind Bay Bridge in the BetVictor London Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury last month.

That race is usually a real pointer for future winners and King Frankel can be the latest to do just that and go one better.

Phil Kirby’s Red Force One – a winner at Ayr at the end of April – can go in again in the Northern Dancer Handicap (5.15pm).

While in the finale, Amanda Perrett’s Open Wide may be able to land a first win on Turf since June 2019 in the Cazoo Handicap (For The Tokyo Trophy) (5.50pm).

The seven-year-old is now on a 1lb lower mark than that last win and will strip fitter for the run when fourth on his seasonal return at Goodwood at the end of April.

At Doncaster Scouse jockey Franny Norton may be among the winners.

He partners the Johnston-trained Dancing King – who can bring up a four-timer for the season in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap (3.05pm).

Another Johnston and Norton runner, Basilicata, can win at the third attempt this season in the Follow At The Races On Twitter Handicap (3.40pm), having been second on his two most recent starts.

At Musselburgh Willie Haggas’ Dhushan should be able to win again in the Racing TV Edinburgh Gin Cup Handicap (3.25pm); while the Michael Dods-trained Gale Force Maya can take the Listed Every Race Live On RacingTV Maggie Dickson Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’) (4pm).