At First Sight looks the pick

LEOPARDSTOWN PREVIEW:LONG TERM it may turn out to be one of those rare occasions when winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial has little affect on the classic picture, but At First Sight may also be the bet to land the prestigious Group Two prize.

Just four line up for the €100,000 feature which in the past decade has been won by superstar names such as Sinndar, Galileo, High Chaparral and Dylan Thomas.

That trio were all trained by Aidan O’Brien. who pitches both At First Sight and Midas Touch into the fray tomorrow, with Johnny Murtagh electing to pick Midas Touch on his first start of the season.

There has already been ample evidence this term that Ballydoyle runners improve significantly for their first run, and O’Brien said yesterday: “Midas Touch is in good form and is just ready to start back. We have rerouted him from the Dee Stakes, as Mikhail Glinka won’t make it due to a bruised foot.”

Despite being only just ready for a run, Midas Touch is the shortest of tomorrow’s quartet in betting for Epsom, but at 20 to 1 there are four of his stable companions rated ahead of him.

Jim Bolger’s Reiteration has won both his starts this season, while Dermot Weld brings Address Unknown back to the same course and distance over which he ran a noticeably unlucky fifth in last month’s Ballysax.

The Juddmonte-owned colt got no run inside the final furlong of that Ballysax in which At First Sight was only just touched off by Puncher Clynch after making much of the running in a slow race.

There might be a general view that At First Sight was flattered by that run, and clearly Murtagh is thinking along those lines. But the Galileo colt does have that effort under his belt and, unlike Address Unknown, he is assured to like the likely fast ground conditions.

Those ground conditions will also be vital in the Group Three Amethyst Stakes as Famous Name looks a hard horse to oppose on every level – apart from his preference for a slight cut in the going. The 2008 French Derby runner-up was impressive here on his last start and might just get away with it against only four opponents, the best of which looks to be the seven-furlong specialist, Duff.

Atasari will thrive on the surface judged on her two-year-old form and Jim Bolger’s filly can resume winning ways in the Group Three 1,000 Guineas Trial. Her stable companion Ceannline looked a different proposition when winning a Gowran maiden and carries bottomweight in the mile handicap.

Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph rides Bold Quest in the 10-furlong maiden and it is worth remembering this one started favourite last time in the Curragh maiden won by Rocket Man.

Davy Russell returns from a knee injury picked up in Punchestown at the start of Killarney’s May festival tomorrow and can make an immediate impact on Grey Soldier in the featured Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle. Gordon Elliott’s novice was not out of it in the Grade One hurdle won by Blackstairmountain at Punchestown when he crashed out at the third last and will relish fast ground conditions at the Kerry track. Lucky Wish gets weight from every other contender in the conditions chase and will also relish the surface..

O'Brien looking for hat-trick

AIDAN O'BRIEN aims to complete a Lingfield Derby Trial hat-trick today with Captain James Cook attempting to navigate his way towards Epsom next month, writes Brian O'Connor.

Ireland’s champion trainer, who has won today’s Group Three for the last two years with Alessandro Volta and Age Of Aquarius, runs Captain James Cook (Johnny Murtagh) and Don Carlos (Richard Hills) this time.

Both runners are 50 to 1 shots for the Epsom Derby.

Zarinava and Cooper’s Crest are the Irish representatives in today’s Swinton Hurdle at Haydock as the visitors pursue a first success in the valuable Grade Three since Macs Joy six years ago.

And David Marnane runs the double-Dundalk winner Daddy Boy in Ascot’s Victoria Cup.

Alaivan will fly the Irish flag in tomorrow’s Grade Two Prix Amadou at Autueil, where Philip Carberry will take the reins on Edward O’Grady’s Triumph Hurdle third.

Battleoftrafalgar was a beaten favourite on his last start at Dundalk, but returns to the all-weather for today’s concluding 10 furlong handicap with his conqueror Puncher Clynch having boosted that form in some style since.

David Wachman’s Meow is bred to go fast in today’s opener, being a daughter of Storm Cat and the top sprinter Airwav.