O'Brien double-handed in Lingfield Derby Trial Aidan O'Brien has two live chances in the betfred.com Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday. The Ballydoyle handler has won the race three times since 2008 and his son Joseph O'Brien is on Mekong River, who won his first four starts before finishing fourth in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, while Ryan Moore partners the once-raced Blue Hussar. Mark Johnston is doubly represented by Double Bluff, third behind Western Hymn and Snow Sky at Newbury, and Hartnell, one place in front of Mekong River at Saint-Cloud but a disappointing favourite in the Derby Trial at Epsom. Andrew Balding's Signposted was fourth in the same Epsom race and the pair clash again, while Ed Dunlop runs Red Galileo, fourth to Western Hymn at Sandown. It is 20 years since Sir Michael Stoute last won with Hawker's News but he has a solid chance with Snow Sky. The Khalid Abdullah-owned son of Nayef won a Salisbury maiden by 11 lengths last season, forcing connections to supplement him for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He was found wanting in that exalted company but reappeared last month with a solid effort at Newbury behind John Gosden's Western Hymn, who subsequently won the Classic Trial at Sandown. "His form looks solid after Western Hymn went and won again at Sandown," said Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. "This run is more exploratory than anything. He's in good form at home and this should tell us a lot more as to where we go with him from here. "Looking at his pedigree, I think he should stay. The more you look at it, the more confidence I have. He showed some nice form last year but he didn't really handle the ground at Doncaster in the Racing Post Trophy. "This should give us a good idea of what we have." Gosden is represented by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Munjaz, a Sea The Stars colt who won a Newmarket maiden at the Craven meeting. "I think everything has been pretty good with him since his win at Newmarket," said Angus Gold, racing manager for the owner. "I thought he was workmanlike there, but he is still a very inexperienced, immature horse and I'm sure he is going to improve. "He is a nice horse. He is a big galloper and we have always known that he has a certain amount of ability. He will stay well and I think he will improve as the year goes on. "Paul (Hanagan) said he might prefer a flat track, but if he is going to be any sort of horse, he will have to adapt." The field is completed by Godolphin's Sudden Wonder, winner of a sales race on his return to action last month.
