O'Brien double-handed in Lingfield trial Aidan O'Brien will saddle both Mekong River and stable companion Blue Hussar in the Betfred.com Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday. The master of Ballydoyle claimed the Listed prize with odds-on favourite Nevis 12 months ago and has also struck with Alessandro Volta (2008) and Age Of Aquarius (2009) in recent years. Mekong River won his first four starts as a juvenile, but was beaten into fourth when favourite for the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud in November, while Blue Hussar is far less experienced, with his victory in a Leopardstown maiden in November his only start to date. Mark Johnston is also double-handed, running both Double Bluff and Hartnell. Sudden Wonder is a major contender for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby judged on his comeback victory in the Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy at Newmarket last month, while John Gosden sends Newmarket maiden winner Munjaz. The Ed Dunlop-trained Red Galileo, Andrew Balding's Signposted and Snow Sky from Sir Michael Stoute's yard complete the nine-runner field. Honor Bound, Kallisha and Moonrise Landing represent Ralph Beckett as the trainer looks to extend his fine record in the Betfred £7.5 Million Scoop6 Today Oaks Trial on the same card. The Andover handler first won the race with Kayah in 2007 and although she was unable to make a significant impact in the Oaks at Epsom, a year later Look Here was narrowly beaten at Lingfield before going on to claim Classic glory on the Downs. Last year Beckett trained Secret Gesture to claim the Lingfield trial and she went on to fill the runner-up spot at Epsom, finding only stable companion Talent too strong. This year's Beckett trio is headed by Moonrise Landing, with the Lingfield maiden winner partnered by stable jockey Jim Crowley. James Doyle will get the leg up on Honor Bound, a winner at Windsor less than a fortnight ago, while Richard Kingscote comes in for the ride on Kallisha, who was successful on her only previous appearance at Sandown. The highest-rated filly in the field is the Andrew Balding-trained Casual Smile, whose narrow defeat at the hands of Taghrooda last September looks excellent form in light of the winner's subsequent exploits. Queen's Prize, who carries the colours of Her Majesty, represents the Sir Michael Stoute-Ryan Moore combination having made a good impression when making a winning debut at Kempton last year. John Gosden's Criteria is another who steps up in class after winning a Kempton maiden. Isabella Beeton, Island Remede, Momentus, Mutatis Mutandis and Stealth Missile complete an 11-runner line-up.
