All Systems Go For Motivator

Connections of Motivator were all smiles after the Vodafone Derby favourite worked on the Newmarket gallops today.

His Epsom partner Johnny Murtagh was in the plate as the Montjeu colt exercised up the Al Bahathri with two stable companions watched by trainer Michael Bell and Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners The Royal Ascot Racing Club.

Bell said: 'He did a bit of work up the Al Bahathri gallop and went very nicely.

'Mr Murtagh was at the helm and had a big smile on his face after the work.

'That´s it now - we´ll just keep him ticking over and hopefully get him to Epsom in one piece.'

Herbert added: 'It all went very, very well - a totally satisfactory piece of work. Johnny was all smiles afterwards and he thinks Motivator has definitely come on for the run in the Dante.

'He will possibly do one more piece of work before the race, maybe at the weekend or on Tuesday, but I will leave that up to Michael.

'We did box him up to the gallop but it was purely precautionary. He is the favourite for the Derby and we didn´t want to take any chances with him.

'It is very noisy up there with the Bury Road so near and lorries going by so we just wanted to look after the horse.'

The unbeaten Motivator, winner of the Racing Post Trophy and the Dante Stakes, is around 5-2 for the premier Classic at Epsom on Saturday week.

? PA Sport