The Blue Riband Trial at Epsom is the feature race of the day on Tuesday, with Aidan O’Brien’s Chief Little Rock travelling over from Ireland for a tilt at the Listed prize.
Winner of a Leopardstown maiden on his second start, the son of Galileo produced an excellent second in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in September before filling the same position behind the impressive Ancient Wisdom in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. A full-brother to twelve furlong Royal Ascot winner Okita Soushi, Chief Little Rock is expected to relish the step up in distance.
"We're very happy with him and he showed a good level of form when second in the Beresford," said O'Brien.
"We like him and we think nice ground will suit him, it was nice ground when he won his maiden and we're keen to learn plenty about him at Epsom.
"His form from last year looks good now and we've been very happy with him this year.
"We always thought he would stay a mile and a quarter and maybe a mile and a half."
His main opposition appears to be the unbeaten Feigning Madness for the Ralph Beckett yard, who landed two novice events at Newbury and Newmarket as a juvenile, and Arabic Legend, having his first start for Karl Burke. Previously trained by Andrew Balding, the Dubawi colt was an eye-catching winner on debut at Newmarket's July course before placing secoond in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury. Whilst disappointing when down the field in the Autumn Stakes subsequently, he is expected to show better form on a sounder surface.
