Lingfield eyes Group 3 return for Derby Trial after Epsom Classic double

Lingfield will be pushing for a return to Pattern status for its Derby Trial after the Surrey track's historic Classic double at Epsom this past weekend, when Anthony Van Dyck and Oaks heroine Anapurna followed up last month's victories at the course with success on the Downs.

No winner of either the Lingfield Derby or Oaks trial had followed up in the Epsom Classics since the last century, so officials at the track are understandably thrilled at pulling off an unlikely brace, and are hopeful that these results have put them "back on the map".

George Hill, clerk of the course at Lingfield, said: "We're delighted with the results, it's been a long time coming for either trial winner to go and win [at Epsom]. It was the last century for either of them and the double has never been done.

"Although we knew we had two nice horses from the trials going to Epsom, to have both of them go and win was, I won't say shock, but it's never happened before so you wouldn't say it would happen."

Anapurna started a brilliant few days for Lingfield with her Oaks victoryCredit: Getty Images/Alan Crowhurst

Prior to this year's results, High-Rise last completed the Lingfield Trial and Derby double in 1998, while Ramruma was the last winner of the track's Oaks trial to follow up in the fillies' Classic in 1999.

The Lingfield Derby Trial was downgraded from a Group 3 to Listed level before the 2013 running, but with Anthony Van Dyck building on the recent resurgence of a race won by subsequent Group 1 winner Best Solution and Group 2 victor Knight To Behold in the last two years – with future St Leger winner Kew Gardens also a runner-up in 2018 – things are looking up for the 1m3½f contest.

Speaking on Sky Sports Racing on Sunday, Aidan O'Brien noted that Lingfield was a "lovely" place to send Anthony Van Dyck en route to Epsom, and Hill hopes the trial can reclaim its Group 3 status again.

"We're always trying to improve it and trying to get the best horses there, and one way of doing it that is to try and get it back up to a Group 3," Hill said. "The ratings will certainly be on our side over the last few years and it's something we will be looking into. You would hope in the years to come it will be taken as a proper trial.

Lingfield: hoping Classic double will provide boost for their trialsCredit: Edward Whitaker

"In recent years, the Dante, the trials at Chester and Leopardstown took preference over the Lingfield trial, which is understandable with the results over the last ten or 20 years. Hopefully now all the big names will want to take us seriously and run at Lingfield.

"Anthony Van Dyck was the highest-rated three-year-old to run in the Lingfield trial which kind of spoke for itself, and we're just grateful to get those runners from the likes of Aidan O'Brien and John Gosden. Having both winners will certainly highlight that Lingfield is a track more than capable of producing Classic winners.

"The configuration of our track is well matched to Epsom compared to some of the other trial races at other racecourses. Having that sweeping left hand, sharp, downhill section is quite similar to Tattenham Corner and then quite a long run into the straight, with just over three, three and a half furlongs to go.

"We've been supported well over the past couple of years. It's nice to convert it into results."

Lingfield's course bears some resemblance to the test Tattenham Corner gives at EpsomCredit: Edward Whitaker

Although only in his role for less than two years, having joined from Brighton, Hill believes the lack of success by the trial winners in the Epsom Classics did have an impact on the Surrey track.

He added: "I'm quite new to Lingfield, but it probably has bothered the track in a way. To not throw up a winner for over 20 years and for it to be not taken as a serious trial going on to the Derby and the Oaks – which is exactly what they’re there to do – I think has affected the course a bit. Having the weekend we've had really puts us back on the map."

Lingfield celebrate Classic double with free entry to Saturday card

Lingfield raced on Saturday evening and in the aftermath of the historic double, the track took the decision to grant free entry to all from after the third race to celebrate their success.

Hill added: "We took the decision after the third race to open the gates and let anyone in for the rest of the racing and the music after as well.

"The Derby trial has been going since 1932 and it's never been done, having the two trial winners win the Derby and the Oaks in the same year. It may never happen again, it's one of those things, but my staff, some of them have been here a long time, a long time before I was working here, and that’s definitely given them a boost.

"We will be having a bit of a barbecue, a little bit of a get-together and a celebration in a couple of weeks time."

Get exclusive insight from the track and live tipping with Raceday Live - our up-to-the-minute service on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app