Bolshoi Ballet bids to strengthen his position as Derby favourite

Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) | 1m2f | 3yo | RTV

Mac Swiney is a fascinating runner for Jim Bolger, who advertised his strength in the three-year-old colt department when Poetic Flare landed the 2,000 Guineas last weekend.

It must be viewed as a vote of confidence for Mac Swiney's Derby credentials that Bolger is happy to keep Poetic Flare to a mile.

And few would disagree with Bolger's appraisal of Mac Swiney being a bona fide Derby horse on last season's form.

Mac Swiney, 10-1 with Sky Bet for the Derby, went from strength to strength last term and rounded off his campaign with victory in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy on heavy ground at Doncaster.

Also a winner of a Group 2 at the Curragh on soft, there is no question that Mac Swiney will be helped by all the rain that has fallen in Dublin over the weekend.

However, whether it will be enough to tip the scales in his favour is debatable as Bolshoi Ballet remains the one to beat judged on his Ballysax Stakes victory.

Bolshoi Ballet's trainer Aidan O'Brien has won this 13 times in the past and is likely to make it 14 at the main expense of Mac Swiney, who could still emerge as a genuine Derby hope even if he is beaten.

One who could outrun his odds is Fernando Vichi, who is equipped with first-time blinkers following his sixth-placed effort in the Ballysax.

Leopardstown return always the plan – O'Brien

Aidan O'Brien's Derby challenge met something of a setback during the week when he was forced to scratch long-time ante-post favourite High Definition from a key trial at Lingfield on Saturday due to unsatisfactory bloods.

High Definition faces a race against time in order to line up at Epsom in top shape and, as a result, the need for Bolshoi Ballet to back up his impressive Ballysax display has become increasingly important.

Bolshoi Ballet would have gone into the winter as no more than a Derby hopeful after winning a Leopardstown maiden in October, before running a respectable race for one so inexperienced in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

He has taken a good leap forward this season and his taking Ballysax victory, where he had Derrinstown rivals Taipan, Lough Derg and Fernando Vichi behind, has seen him leap to the head of the Cazoo Derby betting, helped by a mixed bag of performances in the other Epsom trials.

Bolshoi Ballet, a best-priced 11-2 for the Derby, bids to become the ninth horse to complete the Ballysax-Derrinstown Derby Trial double since the turn of the century after Galileo, High Chaparral, Yeats, Fascinating Rock, Light Heavy, Battle Of Marengo, Fame And Glory and Broome.

O’Brien said: "The plan was always to go back to Leopardstown with Bolshoi Ballet after he won the Ballysax. He's been in very good form since then and we’re happy with him.”

On Lough Derg, he added: “Lough Derg ran well behind Bolshoi Ballet in the Ballysax and we’re also happy with him.”

What they say

Donnacha O'Brien, trainer of Fernando Vichi
He came out of his last race well and will improve plenty for it. We've fitted him with blinkers to help him travel a bit better, and we hope to see an improved run.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Southern Lights
He won his maiden over course and distance and has earned his spot. If he acquits himself well we'll know where we're going as we enter the second half of the season.

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets