Murtagh Chasing Dream Hat-Trick

Johnny Murtagh left York on Thursday dreaming of a third win in the world´s most famous race after Motivator maintained his unbeaten record with a stylish success in the totesport Dante Stakes.

Sinndar in 2000 and High Chaparral two years later were both steered to glory in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom by the brilliant Irishman.

And he will be on board next month when the Michael Bell-trained son of Montjeu faces his ultimate test.

All through the winter and spring, the 230 members of the Royal Ascot Racing Club who own the colt have been looking forward to his return to racing action.

And Motivator´s comeback in the race recognised as the Derby´s best trial could hardly have gone more smoothly.

Taken to the start well away from his rivals, there was little sign of the fragile temperament connections had hinted at in the run-up to the contest.

And in the race itself he was always travelling well before his burst of acceleration sealed the victory.

Falstaff, the Aidan O´Brien-trained second-string to stablemate Albert Hall, cut out the early pace but it was far from a breakneck gallop and he was soon joined by the hard-pulling Proclamation.

Murtagh had Motivator better 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 in the straight, but Murtagh was sitting with a double-handful and he only had to push the button a furlong and a half out for his mount 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 his supremacy was never in doubt as he eased home for a one-and-a-half-length success.

And Murtagh was delighted with Motivator´s performance.

He said: 'He was a bit green really but 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.

'He has to come on for the run but I think he will. He has to take it all in on the big day but he´s done nothing wrong today.

'He´s got all the right credentials, hasn´t he? I said earlier in the season that I thought he was more of a mile-and-a-half horse than a mile horse and that´s why we came here and didn´t run in the Guineas.

'I think his stamina is what is going to make this horse really top-class.

'It´s the Derby, the biggest race in the world, and he´s got a first-class chance of winning it. That´s exciting.'

The relief was evident on the face of Bell as his charge returned to the winner´s enclosure.

'It´s been an agonising six months since the Racing Post Trophy,' he said.

'We made the decision to come to the Dante and it is now looking a sound decision.

'Last night I went for a quiet steak with my wife and this morning we had a lovely walk in the Dales and it really helped prepare me for the day, because we had all been a bit like a coiled spring for so long.

'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. 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.'

Motivator is now as short as 7-4 for the Derby with Coral, although Ladbrokes are out on a limb at 3-1.

Bell added: 'He´s the Derby favourite and he deserves to be.

'The ground at Epsom is nearly always good. They do plenty of watering because if it comes up firm then people won´t run their horses on it.

'I´d like to see it genuine good ground on the day and then there´ll be no excuses.

'There is a parade at Epsom but I don´t really think it will bother him.

Sometimes he can give a bit of a kink about turning round from one direction to go back the other way, but the parade at Epsom is one way.

'As for the undulations, he seemed to go round the track well enough when he cantered there and I hope a horse with as much cruising speed as him won´t find

a problem with it.

'We always said we´d let the horse do the talking and I´d like to keep it that way. He´s never done anything wrong in his work and he´s never done anything wrong in a race.'

David Elsworth will also turn his attentions towards Epsom with runner-up The Geezer - as short as 10-1 with Ladbrokes and totesport for the Turf´s blue riband event, while O´Brien attributed the disappointing showing of Albert Hall to the easy ground.

? PA Sport