The top trainer at the track, left, runs DESERT DEW (2.20) who was most impressive at Sandown over a mile last time, and makes the step up from handicap company.

He will need to improve, as officially he is only third best behind Admiralofthefleet and Striving Storm.

Admiralofthefleet bids to win Aidan O’Brien and Mick Kinane their second Derby trial of the meeting, and like Soldier Of Fortune yesterday he has a 5lb penalty for winning a Group Two race last autumn.

He is the class horse in the line-up but if Desert Dew stays the extra quarter of a mile I think he could progress sufficiently to win.

LUSCIVIOUS (1.50) and Yungaburra ended last season on a high. Hopefully they will be fit enough to make a fist of it with Daddy Cool, Gower, Morinqua and Mambo Spirit who have all won this spring. My selection’s two wins were both at Catterick but he did not run too badly at this meeting last year when drawn wide in his sprint.

SCORPION (2.50) won the 2005 St Leger on his only previous start in England. Since then he has been running at the top tracks in the United States and Hong Kong. He is up against a motley lot in the Ormonde Stakes and should
readily kick them into touch.

Alan Bailey likes to have a winner at his local track and could well have laid GLENBUCK (3.20) out for his handicap.