Nap of the Day: Trinity College can pass Derby trial

Epsom hosts a seven-race card featuring a Betfred Derby trial on Tuesday - and it's one in the Listed affair, which could provide major clues for the big one in June, that rates my Nap of the Day.

I think TRINITY COLLEGE is very much the one to beat in the Betfred Blue Riband Trial at Epsom on Tuesday.

Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old Dubawi colt made a slow start to his career, finishing ninth of 14 in a Curragh maiden last June, but improved steadily over his next couple of starts, culminating in a duck-breaking success at Galway in September.

Over an extended mile, he made virtually all to bolt up by 12 lengths. The form is modest, I'll be the first to admit, but he could hardly have done it any easier.

Later that month, he emerged with credit from a Group 2 at the Curragh. Although he beat just one horse home, he was under two lengths behind the winner Hotazhell, who subsequently landed the G1 Futurity Trophy. The runner-up, Tennessee Stud, also won at the highest level in France on his next start.

The selection was a little disappointing on his final start at two, in a Group 3 at Leopardstown over 1m1f, but far from disgraced on what was his fifth appearance in around four months. Excusable, as far as I'm concerned.

He was put away afterwards and made a winning reappearance at Naas last month. He beat stablemate Acapulco Bay, who looks a useful sort himself, by two widening lengths and the rest of the field, including rivals rated 99, 94 and 92, were a further four-and-a-half lengths adrift.

It appears he's trained on from two to three and in my book he sets the standard ahead of this Derby trial - and, crucially, he's race-fit.

The majority of his six rivals, particularly Devil's Advocate, Tiberius Thunder and Prince Of The Seas, boast significant potential as they reappear at three, but he's already rated 105 and could yet improve as he tackles intermediate trips for the first time.

I also suspect he'll cope with the uniqueness of Epsom. There's nothing quite like it, but Naas is undulating himself and he managed more than okay there.

Of course, I fear what Devil's Advocate could be, but he and the rest of the field have to improve significantly to match the form of the selection and I'm willing to bet that won't be happening quite this soon.

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