Motivator Shows Classic Touch

Motivator strengthened his position at the head of the Vodafone Derby market with a stylish win in the totesport Dante Stakes at York today.

The Michael Bell-trained colt is a best-priced 3-1 chance for Epsom after maintaining his unbeaten record with a one-and-a-half-length success over The Geezer in the 10-furlong Classic trial.

He was always travelling well and ran on strongly for Johnny Murtagh despite drifting slightly towards the stands rail.

Aidan O´Brien´s second-string Falstaff took third after making the early running for stablemate Albert Hall.

Murtagh was delighted with Motivator´s performance and thinks the son of Montjeu will handle the undulations of Epsom in the Derby.

'It was a funny race. There wasn´t much pace but when I asked him to quicken he did it very well,' he told Channel 4.

'I think he´ll come round Tattenham Corner come Derby day. He was only having his third run and I expect a lot more improvement - he has what it takes.

'Good horses adapt and to win the Derby he has to overcome it all. I think he has a great chance.'

Bell added: 'It´s been an agonising six months since the Racing Post Trophy. We made the decision to come to the Dante and it is now looking a sound decision.

'I can´t tell you the part the team at home have played. He is quite highly-strung but today he was very calm in the preliminaries.

'We kept everything low-key before the race and he behaved immaculately before, during and after the race. I am absolutely delighted.

'His whole day has been very smooth and it will take a good one to beat him at Epsom.

'He´s pretty fit, he keeps himself fit. He´s only done five bits of work. There´s a little bit of improvement there but he was pretty fit today.'

Falstaff broke quickly and was pushed to the front to cut out the early pace for Albert Hall. But he was soon joined by the hard-pulling Proclamation, who refused to settle on the outside.

Murtagh had Motivator nicely switched off at the back of the pack, with only Albert Hall behind him, and he was in a prime position turning for home.

Albert Hall tried to challenge down the outside but Murtagh was sitting with a double-handful and he only had to push the button a furlong and a half out for Motivator to pick up and move clear.

The even-money favourite drifted to the right in the closing stages as The Geezer tried to peg him back, but pulled away again for what was a smooth success.

David Elsworth will also turn his attentions towards Epsom with The Geezer.

He said: 'I don´t know about the strength of the opposition but he ran a good race and we would have to be thinking about Epsom.'

O´Brien was not too disappointed with eventual fifth Albert Hall as he felt the easy ground was against the colt.

He said: 'Just when he let him down, he just floundered. I was concerned about the ground beforehand because he´s a fast-ground horse.

'A combination of soft ground and a horse who is not 100 per cent fit is usually a disaster but he ran okay. I don´t know about Epsom - we weren´t counting on this.'

He was satisfied with Falstaff´s effort.

'He´s a consistent horse. He ran well in France in his trial last time,' he added.

O´Brien was impressed by Motivator´s performance.

He said: 'The winner did it well and you would have to be very impressed. He travelled well and quickened well.'

Clive Brittain, trainer of the fourth Kandidate, said: 'I´m very pleased with him really. Ryan (Moore) said when he let him down to go and win his race he found the ground too sticky for him.

'There was always a chance the ground was going to be too soft, but then again he has run his race.

'He´s got the trip well but I don´t know about the Derby.'

(C) PA Sport