Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Preview. The Vodafone Derby picture should become a little clearer after Sundays fare at Leopardstown which features the €130,000 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial over ten furlongs, writes Brian Fleming. Alamshar, currently sharing favouritism for the Epsom showdown on June 7th with Newmarket 2,000 Guineas hero Refuse To Bend, reappears on Sunday after his gallant defeat by Balestrini in the Ballysax at the Dublin track last month. Curragh trainer John Oxx holds the son of Key Of Luck in high regard and if the Aga Khan-owned colt is to return to the head of affairs in the market for the Epsom classic in his own right he must notched up his third career victory here. Aidan O'Brien, who saddled all-the-way scorer Balistrini to spring that 33/1 surprise, launches a two-pronged assault on the Group 2 contest headed by Brian Boru, who was narrowly defeated by Alamshar when they last met back in October in the Group 3 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes. Brian Boru then franked that form by taking the Racing Post Trophy 13 days later at the expense of stable-companion Powerscourt and while he has to be respected it's difficult to look outside of Alamshar to book his ticket for Epsom in winning style. To ensure a decent clip from the outset, John Oxx also runs Masandam to act as pacemaker for the favourite while The Great Gatsby, who did catch the eye when working with Brian Boru after racing here last month, will relish the ten furlong trip and might just be the dark horse to chase home Alamshar. Elsewhere five face the starter for the 1,000 Guineas Trial including smooth Listowel winner Hymn Of Love, representing the Dermot Weld/Pat Smullen alliance, fresh from their Classic winning exploits with Refuse To Bend at Newmarket last weekend. The Oxx camp appear to hold the ace in the pack though with Tipperary 7f winner Flamelet, who appeared to be crying out for a longer trip when just getting up close home to make a winning debut in a decent winners race last month. The daughter of Theatrical looks the pick to come out on top in a race which sees Kevin Prendergast saddle two runners, including Rainbows For All which trailed in last of ten in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longcamp last October. She did make an impression prior to that trip to France when making every yard a winning one to defeat the O'Brien filly Yesterday in the Group 3 Debutante Stakes and she looks the danger to Flamelet this afternoon.
