with frankel unfortunately not taking his place at epsom, yet again this looks like being the most signficant pointer to the derby.
seville is the stand-out on form, but faces two very impressive maiden winners in carlton house and world domination.
personally I like seville a lot (i'm sure soldier of fortune will be on later to give him a go on my son) but to be frank the whole coolmore operation bores me to tears. its like backing kenyan middle distance runners. on a serious note I just wonder if on fast ground at york, he'll have the same toe as some of these?
carlton house is a long striding, out and out galloper. I was hugely impressed with the way he stretched clear at newbury and he has a very big future. i'm slightly concerned about him getting the derby trip being by street cry. it'll be interesting to see if he's fully wound up for this though, given that the same stable had workforce beaten in the race last year, and carlton house came on a lot for his first run as a two-year old. any money for this one would be significant. i'll be keeping one eye on the market.
perhaps the most interesting runner though is world domination. I know sacred kingdom amongst others likes this horse a lot. it was hugely impressive the way he tanked up on the bridle in his maiden win and it brought back memories of authorized. also you'd have to think, that they must regard this as a serious horse, as they've hardly toyed with the idea of running frankel in the derby.
after frankels demolition job in the guineas connections are on a crest of a wave. perhaps the main concern for thursday would be that he bruised his foot, and they think he might be a little short on work for the dante, and will come on a lot for the run.
another worthy of mention is genius beast. however unlike others I wasn't particularly impressed with his win last time, he didn't seem to have loads in hand and this looks far tougher. on the plus side this will probably be his derby and unlike some others were they may be improvement to come, he'll be likely fully wound up.
roderic o connor dissapointed so badly in the guineas that I just can't have him if he lines up.
to sum up world domination should be hard to beat, as his main danger carlton house is likely to come on a lot for the run. he would be the selection.
GENIUS BEAST and Roderic O'Connor could both miss Thursday's key Derby warm-up at York, the Totesport Dante Stakes, to wait for other targets.
Connections of Genius Beast, the Bet365Classic Trial winner, are considering the 1m3f Prix Hocquart on the undercard of Longchamp's Guineas meeting on Sunday as an alternative.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Genius Beast is in the Dante and will also be left in the Prix Hocquart at the weekend.
"It's quite likely he will go to France, but we'll leave all options open until we make a final decision on Tuesday."
Following Recital's success in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes, trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed Seville a runner at York this week, but described Roderic O'Connor as "unlikely" to line up inthe Dante.
He said: "Roderic O'Connor will probably wait for either the Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas or the Investec Derby."
The pair's absence is likely to lead to a further contraction in the odds of the three leading contenders, Carlton House, World Domination and Seville.
GENIUS BEAST and Roderic O'Connor could both miss Thursday's key Derby warm-up at York, the Totesport Dante Stakes, to wait for other targets. Connections of Genius Beast, the Bet365Classic Trial winner, are considering the 1m3f Prix Hocquart on the