Derby news and views

Roger Varian expects Kingston Hill to thrive for the step up to 12 furlongs as he goes for glory in the Investec Derby at Epsom.

The Mastercraftsman colt progressed at a rapid rate after winning his debut at Newbury last September, going on to land the Group Three Autumn Stakes before he spreadeagled the field, including French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby, in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

Varian started him off in the 2000 Guineas, where he was beaten five lengths in eighth, but the trainer believes a switch up in distance is a positive for Kingston Hill, who is the only previous Group One winner in the field. He is owned by Paul Smith, son of Derrick, who is part of the Coolmore triumvirate.

"He has come out of the Guineas very well. We considered running in the Dante, but at the start of the year the plan was to go for the Guineas and then the Derby and we decided to stick to that," said Newmarket-based Varian.

"The ground at York would have suited him, but we felt asking him to run in the Guineas and then another good race like the Dante 12 days later would have been the wrong thing to do and there was no need to do it. We would have liked him to have finished a bit closer at Newmarket but, on reflection, he ran a perfectly good race and a good trial for Epsom.

"The Derby trials have been interesting and there have been some good winners, but probably nothing outstanding, which is why nothing is really challenging Australia at the top of the market. From the reports I've read, Aidan (O'Brien) has been very positive about Australia since the Guineas and if the ground comes up good to firm at Epsom, he'll be hard to beat.

"At the same time, we're there to take him on, we'll be doing our best and we're going there with plenty of excitement. He deserves to be there. He's a Group One winner and I have no doubt you'll see a better horse now he steps up in trip."

While the ground may come in his favour as rain is forecast, Kingston Hill must defy an unfavourable draw in stall two, with no winners in recent years starting from one or two.

True Story, who is drawn in one, was a hot favourite for the Dante after an imperious display in the Feilden Stakes but he was well held in third with Kieren Fallon, who replaced SIlvestre de Sousa on the colt, blaming his defeat on the ground.

His trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "The Dante form is good. Since York he has worked twice with Kieren and worked really well. I'm really happy with him, but the key is we don't want it too soft. The horse is well, physically we are happy now, he's improved a lot and I think a mile and a half will be really good for him. Good ground or good to soft will be perfect. It depends how fast they go, but off a nice pace I think we'll sit handy and that will suit him."

One place in front of True Story at York was Peter Chapple-Hyam's Arod, representing a trainer with two wins in the Classic.

"Arod has been in really good form since the Dante - we are really happy with him. We think that he has improved and he has definitely improved physically," said Chapple-Hyam.

"He should enjoy the step up to a mile and a half, we think that is what he wants even though he has got a lot of speed. But you do need speed too - a horse has to travel well around Epsom. He would not want the ground too soft but he should handle the hullabaloo of Derby Day - I am sure that he will handle it a lot better than I will!"

Dermot Weld has won races all over the globe but has yet to triumph in the Derby, with Casual Conquest's third to New Approach in 2008 the closest he has come. His contender this year is Fascinating Rock, who won the Ballysax Stakes and was awarded the Derrinstown Derby Trial in the stewards' room. However, Weld admits he is in the dark as to whether Fascinating Rock will see out a mile and a half.

"He's a fine, big horse, he's done us proud this spring. He's unbeaten and won his two Group races. He's a lovely, kind animal. He's a smashing colt to train and he's getting better all the time. We don't know if a mile and a half is up his street, that's the unknown question. We hope he will stay. The mental attitude of the horse will help - he's a lovely, big, relaxed horse," Weld said.

"Obviously we've been training him to settle, he's been doing that nicely, and there's every chance he will get a mile and a half. He got a mile and a quarter at Navan going away, he was coming home to some tune at Leopardstown. He gives us every indication he will stay, but that is the one doubt about it."

Assessing the opposition, Weld said: "Australia is a very worthy favourite, the English 2000 Guineas form was a very good Classic trial. I'm very happy with my horse. He's adaptable and I expect a big run. But if Australia was not in the race, I think Geoffrey Chaucer would be a short-priced favourite. I've been training for nearly 40 years and I've saddled 22 European Classic winners and saddled an Oaks winner early in my career and won a Newmarket 2000 Guineas. If I won the Derby it would be great, I've had very few runners in the race."