'We've had this in mind for some time' - Gosden aims for another Blue Riband win

2.15 Epsom
Blue Riband Trial (Listed) | 1m2f | 3yo | RTV

The Blue Riband Trial may have a notoriously poor record of establishing a path to Derby glory, but 2017 winner Cracksman did finish third in the Classic six weeks later.

His joint-trainer John Gosden also sent out the 2015 (Cloud Nine), 2016 (So Mi Dar) and 2018 (Crossed Baton) winners – all partnered by Frankie Dettori – and unbeaten Uncle Bryn gives the Clarehaven team another strong chance this year.

One of four Derby entries – the others are Too Friendly, Hector De Maris and Star Caliber – Uncle Bryn is much the shortest-priced of the quartet at a general 16-1 to win Flat racing’s most famous race.

The son of Sea The Stars looked potentially very useful when landing all-weather events at Kempton and Wolverhampton last autumn by an aggregate of more than seven lengths.

This provides Uncle Bryn’s stiffest task to date, but he looks just the type to take the step up in his stride.

All bar one of the nine runners have either gone from the front or raced handily in at least one of their previous races, so a strongly run race looks likely.

Star Caliber, who made much of the running when winning by a nose at Goodwood last September, is a well-regarded son of Golden Horn capable of significant improvement at three.

The Aidan O’Brien representative, Hector De Maris, currently on offer at 66-1 for the Derby, lost his maiden certificate at the fifth time of asking in a 7f Naas nursery in November.

That was on heavy ground and the Camelot colt will face drastically different underfoot conditions this time.

Technique, the only filly in the field, is quoted at a general 80-1 for the Cazoo Oaks.

What they say

Tony Carson, trainer of Bodroy
It’s his first run for us and hopefully he won’t be disgraced, but it’s a big ask. He’s plenty of experience and ran a decent race to be fourth to Highland Avenue, who won the Feilden Stakes last week.

Alastair Donald, spokesman for King Power Racing, owners of Star Caliber
Andrew Balding was pleased with his final piece of work last week and we feel that he could make up into a nice staying type. It looks a stronger than average renewal of the race but we are hoping for a solid run.

Hollie Doyle, rider of Surprise Exhibit
He’s never run anywhere as undulating as Epsom but he’s done well physically over winter and Archie’s horses are running very well at the moment, so hopefully he can run a nice race.

Tim Gredley, joint-owner of Too Friendly
He won nicely at Doncaster when the further he went the better. I don’t know how good the race was but that warranted at a tilt at this. He wouldn’t want the ground any faster than good but they do a good job with the watering at Epsom.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Uncle Bryn
We also had him in the Classic Trial at Sandown on Friday but we’ve had this in mind for some time. He’s still relatively inexperienced having had only the two runs on the all-weather at Kempton and then Wolverhampton, so this first run on turf will bring him on mentally. He’s been going nicely at home but still has a lot to learn.

Martyn Meade, trainer of Technique
She won nicely on her debut at Wolverhampton which gives her some experience of left-handed and it was either run her in a novice or pitch her in the deep end. We’ll roll the dice and see if she handles the track with a view to going back there.

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