This horse is one for Arsenal fans and I love his style - he's one to follow even if he doesn't run in the Derby
Given their pedigrees and the amount of investment put in, it's nigh on certain that Aidan O'Brien-trained horses are going to have a massive say in all the top Group 1 races as the season progresses. They always do. However, trying to predict at this stage which Ballydoyle horse is going to be the pre-eminent one is not easy, especially after what we saw from City Of Troy in the 2,000 Guineas.
It would have taken Nostradamus to suggest that Paddington or St Mark's Basilica were going to be two of the best three-year-olds of their generation at this stage of their careers, while only last year Continuous was a name on virtually no one's lips. Clearly Aidan's training methods are all about the long term and every year I play the 'guess the superstar from left field' game.
To be honest, I've probably gone too soon this year because the O'Brien horses are only just beginning to hit their straps but at Leopardstown on Saturday, I thought the most impressive performance by some margin didn't come in the Derby Trial; it came from Arsenal fans' favourite horse, Highbury, in the 1m4f maiden.
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- Why those with long-term aspirations should be queuing up to use this stallion - plus my idea of the Derby winner
- The pass Derby favourite City Of Troy is being given in so many quarters for his lamentable Guineas effort staggers me
- The 2,000 Guineas is one of my favourite races but I simply cannot work out how City Of Troy ran so badly on Saturday
- Willie Mullins is a phenomenon who's rewriting the record books - but his dominance could cause long-term damage to racing
- The 2,000 Guineas might not be a cakewalk for City Of Troy and this is the horse I fancy to put it up to him
- Why those with long-term aspirations should be queuing up to use this stallion - plus my idea of the Derby winner
- The pass Derby favourite City Of Troy is being given in so many quarters for his lamentable Guineas effort staggers me
- The 2,000 Guineas is one of my favourite races but I simply cannot work out how City Of Troy ran so badly on Saturday
- Willie Mullins is a phenomenon who's rewriting the record books - but his dominance could cause long-term damage to racing
- The 2,000 Guineas might not be a cakewalk for City Of Troy and this is the horse I fancy to put it up to him