O'Brien lands 1-2-3 as outsider Douglas upstages stablemates

It was a day for Ballydoyle's bench to showcase their talents.

Winter upstaged Rhododendron in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and this Derby trial did not go the way the market expected either as Emmet McNamara made all on Douglas Macarthur, the outsider of Aidan O'Brien's three runners.

The trio finished in the same order behind Rekindling in the Ballysax last month, with Douglas Macarthur taking second, Yucatan third and Capri fourth.

Not since High Chaparral in 2002 has a Derrinstown winner gone on to win the Derby at Epsom and the fact a head and a short-head separated the first three home suggests it will be a little while longer before the feat is achieved again.

However, Douglas Macarthur was cut into 14-1 for Epsom glory by Ladbrokes. Paddy Power and Betfair reacted in similar fashion by halving his price into 20-1 (from 40). Churchill was trimmed a point into 5-1 by Betfair.

When asked whether the Investec Derby would be next on the agenda for Douglas Macarthur, McNamara said: "I don't know if that is the plan next. I'll leave that up to far more intelligent people than me, but I wouldn't mind riding him.

"His run last time would lead you to believe I was on the best of the three and there was very little between them. The boss man just felt the other two might have improved past him. They are three very nice horses and it was great to be on one of them.

He added: "He stuck his head in front at the right time and he is very tough. He's a typical Galileo. He sticks his head down and tries really hard for you. You almost feel bad hitting him because he is trying so hard. He should not have any problem getting a mile and a half. Turning in I thought I was in trouble but he stayed and stayed and stayed. He is very uncomplicated."

It was an 11th win in the race for O'Brien who last won it in 2013 with Battle Of Marengo.

Result and analysis