Epsom Downs opens for the 2012 season next Wednesday, April 25, with the staging of the Investec Spring Meeting.
The highlight of the six-race card is the £50,000 Investec Derby Trial (3.20pm) which takes place over the last 10 furlongs and 18 yards of the Investec Derby course.
In addition to being the only Classic trial run at Epsom Downs, the winner of this year's Investec Derby Trial will receive an automatic entry into the 2012 Investec Derby under the new wild-card entry scheme (if not already entered).
Of the 18 entries received today for the Investec Derby Trial, seven do not currently hold an entry for the Investec Derby and if any of that septet were to succeed on Wednesday, they would be given a wild-card entry into the Investec Derby, which takes at Epsom Downs on Saturday, June 2, with a prize fund of at least £1.25 million.
The Jim Bolger-trained Light Heavy has been one of the most eye-catching three-year-olds seen in Ireland this season with two impressive victories to his name, but he doesn't currently hold an entry in the Investec Derby and could bid to gain a wild-card entry into the race. He is currently a 20/1 chance for the Investec Derby with William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival.
The son of Teofilo got off the mark in a conditions race over a mile at Leopardstown in March, when he beat subsequent Group Three winner Furner's Green, before returning to the Dublin track to win the Group Three Ballysax Stakes over a mile and a quarter last Sunday, April 15.
Bolger, who based in Co Carlow and saddled the 2008 Investec Derby hero New Approach, said today: “Light Heavy could run in the Investec Derby Trial on Wednesday. We will look at the entries and then make a decision.
“He has come out of the Ballysax Stakes in good order. If he runs, the idea behind it will be to try and gain a wild-card entry into the Investec Derby, as he is not currently entered.
“His progress this season hasn't surprised us because we have always thought of him as a high-class colt, but he has taken his time to develop. We were delighted with his debut run last season and he is the type of horse that will progress right through the season.
“If he doesn't run in the Investec Derby Trial he will go to the Group Two Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May.”
Bolger also had news on his gutsy Dewhurst Stakes winner Parish Hall, who is still on course to start his campaign in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and is a 16/1 chance for the Investec Derby with William Hill.
He added: “Parish Hall will start in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, but we have always thought of him as an Investec Derby horse - he proved that when he won the Dewhurst.”
Other contenders that could also book a place at Epsom Downs on June 2 if they were to succeed in the Investec Derby Trial include yesterday's Listed Feilden Stakes runner-up Mister Music, Godolphin's Mojave, a winner of two of his three starts in 2011 for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, Amoralist from the Ed Dunlop stable, the Mark Johnston-trained Cravat and John Gosden's recent Lingfield maiden scorer Dark Stranger. The Andrew Balding-trained Goldoni is unable to utilise the wild-card scheme as he is a gelding.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien, successful in the Derby with Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), could use the Investec Derby Trial to test out three of his entries for the 2012 renewal - Astrology, Imperial Monarch and Thomasgainsborough. Astrology, a son of Galileo, was placed at Group Two level last season while Imperial Monarch, another son of Galileo, was successful on his sole start of 2011 in a mile maiden at the Curragh. Thomasgainsborough was also successful in maiden company last season and finished third on his seasonal reappearance at Dundalk on April 11.
In addition to Mojave, Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni could also be represented by Gold Rally, successful in a Haydock maiden last season and Swedish Sailor, an impressive winner at Yarmouth last season who was entered in the Investec Derby at the second entry stage on April 3.
Another second entry for the Investec Derby was the David Lanigan-trained Main Sequence, unbeaten in two starts last season. He has also been given an entry in the Investec Derby Trial.
Wednesday's entries also include the Roger Varian-trained Cameron Highland, an eight-length winner at Redcar on April 9, as well as Basseterre (Charlie Hills) and Good Of Luck (Mick Channon), who both won maidens on the all-weather during the winter. The entries are completed by Unex Michelangelo (John Gosden), successful at Thirsk last season.
Latest Investec Derby odds from William Hill, Official Betting Partner of the 2012 Investec Derby Festival: 9/4 Camelot, 12/1 Akeed Mofeed, 16/1 Bonfire, Born To Sea, Mandaean, Parish Hall, Top Offer, 20/1 Encke, Light Heavy, 25/1 Astrology, Ernest Hemingway, Fencing, Imperial Monarch, Kesampour, Mighty Ambition, Shantaram, Swedish Sailor, 33/1 Call To Battle, David Livingstone, Ektihaam, Furner's Green, Noble Mission, Rougemont, Wrotham Heath, 40/1 Continuum, 50/1 Commitment, Jungle Beat, Main Sequence (EW 1/4 1,2,3) Others on request
