The Road to The Cazoo Derby

NAHANNI The Cazoo Blue Riband Trial Epsom Downs Tuesday 19th April

Unraced as a two-year-old, Nahanni posted a solid effort when runner-up at Kempton Park in January. He opened his account the following month back there before showing he was equally impressive on turf when winning a Leicester novice by a whopping nine lengths under a penalty. The son of the mighty Frankel was well supported for our Cazoo Blue Riband Trial three weeks later and he rewarded supporters with a game success. With the knowledge that he already has course winning form and has won over today’s trip, he could well prove a lively challenger.

CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD The Boodles Chester Vase Stakes Chester Wednesday 4th May

Beaten in three starts as a juvenile, Changingoftheguard opened his account in emphatic style on reappearance in a Dundalk Maiden in April. Despite the step up in class to Chester’s Group 3 trial, the Coolmore charge produced another decisive performance to defeat the unbeaten odds-on favourite New London by six and a half lengths. This son of stallion royalty Galileo is practically guaranteed to be suited to the Cazoo Derby’s mile and a half trip and perhaps his name is an omen today as we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

WESTOVER The bet365 Classic Trial Sandown Park Friday 22nd April

Brought along steadily last year by his dual-Oaks winning trainer Ralph Beckett,Westover won on debut at Sandown Park before finishing runner-up on his final two starts – the latter a narrow defeat in a Pontefract Listed contest. Bred by his owners by their super-stallion Frankel, the colt clearly flourished over the winter. He showed his battling qualities to hold off the persistent challenge of the runner-up Cash in Sandown Park’s Group 3 Trial, prevailing by a short-head. He is untried over the Cazoo Derby trip, so that must be taken on trust, but he has plenty of size about him and still showed signs of greenness, so could well have lots more to offer.

DESERT CROWN The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes York Thursday 12th May

Desert Crown didn’t set foot on a racecourse until the final week of the 2021 season but what a debut it was – easily dispatching a competitive field in a Nottingham Maiden. There was plenty of buzz around his reappearance in York’s Dante Stakes, historically a good pointer to the Cazoo Derby. Once again, he oozed class as he put his seven rivals to the sword, winning by three and a quarter lengths from the Group 2 winning Royal Patronage. With only two runs under his belt, one could argue that we haven’t seen the best of him yet and he looks to hold very strong claims today.