Gutsy Fracas wins the battle

Maybe yesterday's Derrinstown Trial will throw up yet another Derby hero but at the very least Fracas's narrow defeat of Alayan and Grand Central provided an intriguing little drama that will bear repeated viewing. Brian O'Connor reports

This was no pre-Epsom stroll in the style of Galileo or High Chaparral but instead the Group Two finish turned into a gruelling slug-out between Fracas and Alayan with Jamie Spencer's mount just edging it by a short head.

That was enough for one firm, Boylesports, to cut Fracas right down to 12 to 1 for Epsom even though there is no guarantee that the famous switchback turns will host the still unbeaten colt.

"He is in all the Derbys and we will play it by ear where he goes," said his trainer David Wachman. "He is entitled to run in one of them - maybe two!"

However, if the finish was dramatic, so was the earlier tangle at the start of the Leopardstown straight when the well-backed favourite, Grand Central, saw his chance all but disappear.

Kieren Fallon found himself behind the former Ballydoyle number one Michael Kinane on Alayan and trapped on the rail with his immediate predecessor Spencer determinedly keeping him there.

A venture to the outside didn't work and when a gap appeared on the rail it was quickly closed again.

Grand Central was only a length back at the line but a subsequent stewards inquiry resulted in no action been taken.

"Interesting!" was Aidan O'Brien's immediate verdict but even though the Ballydoyle trainer didn't want to deflect attention from the others he is significantly not ruling Grand Central out of the Epsom melting pot.

"Kieren was very happy with the horse and at least we learned. The form of all the trials is in there," he said later.

The Aga Khan was at the track to watch Alayan's admirable effort and John Oxx said the Prix du Jockey Club over its new 10-furlong trip is a likely target.

The fourth, Bobs Pride, is likely to revert to a mile for the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Epsom, however, remains a possibility for Fracas. "It was a good effort on only his third run. The second is battle hardened from Nurserys and only guts got him there," Wachman said of the €100,000 purchase.

"The race turned into a sprint, cat and mouse, which didn't suit us or the others."

If for once this season the main event eluded O'Brien and Fallon they didn't waste time getting consolation with Belle Artiste impressively winning the Group Three 1,000 Guineas Trial and the highly rated three-year-old Scorpion making a winning debut in the 10 furlong maiden.

Belle Artiste carried the colours of O'Brien's wife Ann Marie from last to first to beat Sky High Flyer and earn a possible tilt at the Curragh Guineas.

"That's what you call pressure!" quipped the trainer. "Kieren gave her a marvellous ride. She has to come late but she is a good filly who has improved over the winter."

Fallon was at his most patient on Scorpion who only led close to home to beat Yeats's full sister Magnolia Lane by half a length. The winner remains in the Derby but that is likely to come too soon.

"We've always thought of him as one of the top horses," said O'Brien. "We've just had a few hold-ups with him."

Another trainer in good form was Harry Rogers whose Imperial Rose just edged out Pelagias Star in the 12-furlong handicap and who also landed the mile handicap with Kilmannin.