Horse In Profile: The Lion In Winter Aidan O'Brien has seemingly been mopping up the Classic trials in Britain and Ireland in recent days and, worryingly for his would-be rivals, the Ballydoyle maestro may not even have unleashed his finest vintage just yet. The likes of Puppet Master, Lambourn, Mount Kilimanjaro and Delacroix have all impressed lately, but York's Dante Festival later this week could see the very best of the Ballydoyle three-year-olds reappearing as excitement grows for The Lion In Winter's comeback. Tote Betting Offer If you already have a Tote account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses All eyes on York return The Lion In Winter heads the betting for the Epsom Derby next month despite some impressive trial wins from his Ballydoyle stablemates. The whispers from O'Brien's base continue to suggest that The Lion In Winter is the top dog for the Epsom colts' Classic. He was among 13 colts still entered for Thursday's £180,000 contest, the richest Classic trial in the British calendar and a contest whose winner has gone on to triumph at Epsom 11 times - most recently via Desert Crown in 2022. The Lion In Winter was being prepared for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of May but a minor setback caused his trainer to rethink. "We're very happy with him. He'll probably be 80 or 90 per-cent for the Dante and if that goes well then we'll see what the lads [Coolmore] want to do, but the Derby would probably be the plan," said O'Brien. Lots of promise in short juvenile stint The Lion In Winter had just two starts last year as a young horse. He won a 7f Curragh maiden on good ground in July, despite being an easy to back 11/2 chance on the day, with Wayne Lordan in the plate and Ryan Moore third on favourite Ides Of March. He has since won a Group 3, while runner-up Currawood won two of his next three starts for Paddy Twomey. The Lion In Winter, meanwhile, headed for York's Group 3 Acomb Stakes at the Ebor Meeting in August and he dismissed Wimbledon Hawkeye and Ruling Court in second and third with plenty to spare. The latter, of course, won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month for Charlie Appleby and the form of that Knavesmire race last summer has worked out very nicely indeed. Excited for the PGA Championship? Check out our new guide to the best golf betting sites. Lineage promises more to come Being a son of Sea The Stars, O'Brien has no stamina concerns as The Lion In Winter prepares to go beyond 7f for the first time in the Dante at York. "Last year, he didn't look an immature two-year-old and he's straightforward. He's not slow and doesn't work like a slow horse but obviously most of the Sea The Stars seem to stay very well," the trainer suggested recently. "If we go a mile and a quarter in the Dante, we'll have a little idea if he'll stay and I'd imagine Ryan [Moore] will ride him patiently. He'll come forward a lot from the Dante, but we'll have a feel about going to the Derby then." O'Brien has a record 10 Epsom Derby wins on his CV, including Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy in the last two years. He's looking to win three-in-a-row in the Epsom Classic for the second time after Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013) and Australia (2014). With Puppet Master, Lambourn, Mount Kilimanjaro and Delacroix already excelling themselves in trials across Britain and Ireland, The Lion In Winter will get his chance to shine at York and connections are seemingly confident he will grasp it.
