Leading Derby hopes Bolshoi Ballet and Mac Swiney to clash at Leopardstown

Leading Cazoo Derby hopes Bolshoi Ballet and Mac Swiney are among eight entries for the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Bolshoi Ballet produced a superb performance on his reappearance in the Ballysax Stakes over course and distance last month and is a general 5-1 shot to go on to Classic success at Epsom.

Mac Swiney was last seen winning the Group 1 Verterm Futurity Stakes at Doncaster in October and looks to continue a superb start to the season for Jim Bolger after his 2,000 Guineas success with Poetic Flare.

Leopardstown Sunday card

Along with Bolshoi Ballet, Aidan O'Brien also saddles the lightly raced Lough Derg, who was fourth behind his stablemate in the Ballysax and also holds a Derby entry.

Mac Swiney: the Vertem Futurity Trophy winnerCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

High Definition, who missed Saturday's Lingfield Derby trial due to unsatisfactory blood counts, is among seven entries for O'Brien in the Al Basti Equiworld Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Sir Lamorak and Wordsworth are other Ballydoyle entries, while Mark Johnston intends to run last year's Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Gear Up.

Johnston said: "He's a Group 1-winning two-year-old whose won twice at York, so we're looking forward to the Dante. He's got one blot in his copybook but Franny [Norton] felt he didn't make enough use of him in the Royal Lodge. He had a little spin on Wednesday and all is well.

"He's got all the credentials and almost whatever happens at York, he'll go for the Derby."

O'Brien's sons also have major hands to play at Leopardstown, with Joseph set to be represented by recent course maiden winner Southern Lights and Donnacha by Fernando Vichi.

Bolger saddles a second runner in Wexford Soil, while the field is completed by Taipan, trained by Jessica Harrington, and Team of Firsts, who goes for Ger Lyons.

Despite being won by some top-class horses over the last two decades, you have to go back to High Chaparral in 2002 to find the last Derrinstown winner who went on to Derby glory.

Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes runners and riders:

Bolshoi Ballet Ryan Moore
Fernando Vichi Gavin Ryan
Lough Derg Seamie Heffernan
Mac Swiney Kevin Manning
Southern Lights Declan McDonogh
Taipan Shane Foley
Team Of Firsts Colin Keane
Wexford Soil Rory Cleary

Read more:

Friday's Classic insight, including market moves and a Cork maiden to note

Fallon to give up York rides to partner The Lir Jet in French 2,000 Guineas

Derby favourite High Definition set to miss intended return at Lingfield

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