O'Brien has faith in Derby challengers Aidan O'Brien is confident Seville and Recital possess the requisite talent to make their presence felt in Saturday's Investec Derby. The Ballydoyle maestro trained Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) to win successive renewals of the Epsom highlight and this year saddles four contenders. Seville ran an excellent trial to chase home the Queen's Carlton House in the Dante Stakes at York, while Recital won Leopardstown's Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, despite having looked far from straightforward. "We were very happy with Seville's run at York where he was only just ready to start," said O'Brien. "It was a slowly-run race, which didn't suit anybody really. Christophe (Soumillon) had to move up a little bit in the straight to keep his position, but we were delighted. "We felt going to York that the horse would improve, like most of them have been doing, so I just hope that trend continues. "We don't ever work them that hard at home and see how much they have improved, we just take it on trust." The critics were out to get Recital after he wandered across the track at Leopardstown, but O'Brien feels race tactics went against him on the day. "We were happy with Recital at Leopardstown. He's a very brilliant horse with an instant turn of toe," the multiple champion trainer continued. "Obviously the pace was strong and he got to the front with a big head-wind and started looking around. "There was never any danger he was going to get caught and we've been happy with him since." O'Brien insists he does not know which of his two protagonists will come out on top on the Downs as they have never worked together at home, but Recital appears to be the one that excites him the most. "They don't work together. They all have their own companions and they are all doing their own thing," O'Brien added. "Obviously we discuss them and the lads will discuss them, but you're never sure until you put them together. "Seville is a very solid-looking horse who should have no problem getting a mile and a half. "Recital has that kick of brilliance in him and would definitely get a mile and a quarter and you have to take the rest on trust. "He has plenty of class and usually a horse that travels the way he travels doesn't have any problem with the track." Ballydoyle's other two contenders are Derrinstown runner-up Memphis Tennessee and Chester Vase scorer Treasure Beach. "Hopefully Memphis Tennessee has come on and, looking at him, he should have a good chance of getting a mile and a half," the trainer continued. "He's a straightforward horse and we'd be hoping that he's come forward and that he'd run well. "Treasure Beach ran a grand trial at Chester and got the mile and a half well. He's a solid horse. "The Derby is an unbelievably special race and we're just privileged to be part of it. "It's the ultimate test of a thoroughbred."
