O'Brien to run three in Derby trial

Racing:  Aidan O'Brien will field three runners in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Racing:  Aidan O'Brien will field three runners in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The race has proved a key pointer to the blue riband at Epsom in recent years, with Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) all successful en route to victory in the premier Classic in June.

O'Brien was responsible for the latter pair and this year relies on Ballysax Stakes third and fourth Altius and Mountain, as well as Dylan Thomas, who will be making his seasonal bow.

Jim Bolger's well-regarded Heliostatic will be out to book his ticket to Epsom in the Group Two contest, while the sole British challenger is Mick Channon's Youmzain.

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The John Oxx-trained Caribbean, Dermot Weld's Golden Arrow and Rekaab from the Kevin Prendergast yard complete the eight-strong line-up.

Kieren Fallon has opted to partner Aussie Rules as O'Brien launches a four-strong assault on Sunday's Gainsborough Poule D'Essai DePoulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp.

Aussie Rules fared best of the Ballydoyle runners in the Prix de Fontainebleau at the track last month and Fallon's decision to ride the Danehill colt leaves Olivier Peslier to partner Ivan Denisovich.

Marcus Andronicus will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, with David McCabe aboard James Joyce.

British interests will be represented by Mick Channon's Yassood and the John Gosden-trained West Of Amarillo.

The home defence is spearheaded by Nicolas Clement's impressive Fontainebleau winner Stormy River, the likely favourite.