Aidan O’Brien has been cleaning up in Derby trials in recent weeks and his Indian Chief is strongly fancied at 3/1 to land the Dante at York today (2.45) and stake his claim for the big one at Epsom.
The superbly bred son of Montjeu shaped with bags of promise on his sole run as a juvenile when runner-up to Loch Garman on heavy ground at Navan, travelling strongly until being unable to find an extra in the very testing conditions to be beaten just over 2 lengths.
He could then not have been more impressive on his reappearance at Leopardstown last month when easily beating subsequent winner Dubai deer by 2 lengths.
The three-year-old was ridden with supreme confidence that day by Joseph O’Brien, and after being settled at the rear of the field made stealthy headway on the bridle as they entered the straight.
He cruised up on the bridle into third over a furlong out and then quickened and lengthened well to put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
I loved the way he stretched out on the soft ground without being asked a serious question, and immediately marked him down as a live candidate for Epsom.
There is no doubt in my mind that he will be seen to even better effect on quicker ground, and with the track now drying out conditions should be ideal for him this afternoon.
I think he has the potential to go right to the very top, and irf that is to be the case then he must win this.
I fully expect him to do so, and as well as backing him to win today I am also going to suggest backing him at 33/1 to do the Derby/Dante double.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 5pts win Indian Chief (3/1 bet365, Hills – BOG, Coral, Ladbrokes)
3pts Indian Chief – Dante/Derby double – (33/1 Paddy Power, Stan James)
