Our experts on how the York trial affected the Derby picture

It may be unlucky seven for Permian

David Carr, senior reporter
It could be unlucky seven this year. Reference Point won the Dante and Derby in 1987, Benny The Dip did the double in 1997 and Authorized in 2007, but it's asking a lot for the admirable Permian to do the same in 2017. Dee Stakes winner Cliffs Of Moher looks to have as good a chance as any at Epsom in an open year but the contender who is likely to prove best come the end of the season is Sir Michael Stoute's Crystal Ocean. He looked green, unsuited by the ground and in need of further in the Dante and did tremendously well to get as close as he did from off the pace. He is a gorgeously scopey colt, trained by an extraordinarily patient man and looks a definite top-notcher in the making.

Epsom Derby Trial could be key

Andrew Scutts, news editor
The Derby picture is looking a little clearer. It would be remarkable, and the third needs supplementing along with Permian, but it’s conceivable the 1-2-3 from the Epsom Derby Trial could be the 1-2-3 next month. Cracksman won the trial at Epsom, just, and not having been subject to a gruelling race at York but with the form franked, he was rightly trimmed in the market. Permian is tough and will have lots of each-way backers, and Bay Of Poets, third at Epsom and then second to Cliffs Of Moher at Chester, could be Godolphin’s best prospect. Cliffs Of Moher appears Aidan O’Brien’s main contender, with Douglas Macarthur, Yucatan and Capri – who finished in that order in the Derrinstown – in the mix too.

Crystal Ocean could be the one

James Hill, The Edge
Once again we've had a trial in which nothing has set the world alight so it's a surprise that in a very open year we now have four horses priced at 10-1 or shorter for Epsom. Cracksman was scratched from the Dante but with his form being franked he's now as short as 4-1. However, would connections have taken him out of the Dante if they'd thought he was going to win it well? If there's any horse who's likely to step up on their York effort it's the third Crystal Ocean, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he's given more time to develop.

Plenty of pointers to Cracksman

Nick Watts, Racing & Football Outlook editor
The Derby picture is still a confused one, with the winner Permian having to be supplemented for the race. He was having his tenth start in winning the Dante so would be an unusual Derby winner, and the one to take out of it was undoubtedly Sir Michael Stoute's Crystal Ocean. He stayed on well into third and Stoute has won the Derby with a beaten Dante horse, but you just have to wonder whether it will come too quickly for him, and the trainer was downbeat about him even running in the aftermath. John Gosden would have been pleased, however, as Cracksman beat Permian last time out and has avoided a hard race in softish ground close to his big day.