Third Realm slashed for Derby while crucial Leopardstown trial is a Sunday treat

The 2021 Flat season is well under way and it's full steam ahead to the first of the Irish Classics this month – the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas – and next month's Epsom Classics, the Cazoo Derby and Cazoo Oaks.

Market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials are run in Britain and Ireland, but big-race contenders can come from anywhere and it's easy to miss a potential dark horse. Classic Clues, our new series running every morning, has you covered.

Here's a recap of Saturday's news and the impact it made on Classic betting

Racing round-up: Third Realm emerges from left-field

Third Realm defied stable doubts about whether he would be in love with rain-softened ground at Lingfield to bound clear of his rivals in the Novibet Derby Trial.

Roger Varian and owner Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum have already produced one trial winner in the shape of Dee Stakes scorer El Drama, and the cards look to be falling right in terms of keeping them apart, with the Chester winner likely to head to Chantilly for the Prix du Jockey Club over 1m2½f, while Third Realm looks more of an Epsom type.

Third Realm: as short as 8-1 for the Derby after victory at LingfieldCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bookmakers had not previously considered the homebred son of Sea The Stars for the Cazoo Derby, but after running a decent time under a confident David Egan, quotes of 100-1 and 66-1 were replaced with 12, 10 and even 8-1.

Reaction was less enthusiastic about Oaks Trial winner Sherbet Lemon, with plenty of 33-1 available in the wake of her gritty success for Archie Watson and owners Apple Tree Stud.

At Naas, Aidan O'Brien's Cazoo Oaks entry Willow could manage only third as the four-year-old Insinuendo overhauled Thunder Kiss to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Blue Wind Stakes for Declan McDonogh and Willie McCreery.

Saturday's results, replays and analysis

Market Movers

Cazoo Derby

Third Realm 12-1 (from 66), Coral, 10-1 (from 100), Paddy Power

Bolshoi Ballet 5-1 (from 11-2), bet365

Cazoo Oaks

Sherbet Lemon 25-1 (from 66), Betway, 33-1 (from 100), William Hill

Noon Star 8-1 (from 12), Paddy Power

What they said

Roger Varian, trainer of Novibet Derby Trial winner Third Realm
He’s a late-maturing type who is coming good now. He pleased us in his work at home and we’re really excited about him.

Sherbet Lemon (green and white striped sleeves) and Paul Mulrennan land the Novibet Oaks Trial at LingfieldCredit: Getty Images

Paul Mulrennan praises Novibet Oaks Trial winner Sherbet Lemon
We thought the two-furlong step up in trip would suit. She has a great mind, is very laid-back and you can do anything with her. She seemed to relish that ground.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Bolshoi Ballet
The plan was always to go back to Leopardstown after he won the Ballysax. He's been in very good form since and we’re happy with him.

Sunday racing: Leopardstown takes centre stage

There is a genuine sense of excitement ahead of the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (3.15 RTV), which pitches last season's Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy hero Mac Swiney in against Bolshoi Ballet, last month's Ballysax winner over course and distance.

Both are trading at single figures for the Cazoo Derby and it will be disappointing if the race doesn't bring more clarity to the Epsom picture.

Mac Swiney will be making his seasonal debut, but stablemate Poetic Flare's 2,000 Guineas triumph last weekend and jockey Kevin Manning's subsequent comments that he finds them hard to split have rekindled interest in trainer Jim Bolger's Classic contender.

Sinndar went on to Derby glory after landing the Derrinstown Trial at LeopardstownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Three successive winners of the Derrinstown went on to Epsom glory in the shape of Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002), while four more colts have since been placed in the Derby after triumphing in the Leopardstown Group 3.

There could also be clues for the Curragh mile Classics on the card, with a wide-open look to the 1,000 Guineas Trial (2.45 RTV).

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Joan Of Arc was sixth behind 80-1 trial winner Keeper Of Time here last month and has ground to make up on Sense Of Style and Fantasy Lady, who were third and fourth that day.

Ace Aussie, who ran second to Poetic Flare in last month's 2,000 Guineas trial, will seek to enhance his reputation in the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes (2.15 RTV) over a mile.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Ace Aussie is not entered in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 22, but he is 33-1 for the Cazoo Derby and also holds an entry for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 26.

Read more on Saturday's Classic trials

All aboard the Varian bus to Epsom as Third Realm hits top gear at Lingfield

Sherbet Lemon has the zest for Epsom after 28-1 shock for Watson and Mulrennan

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