Cecil's thoughts turn to Epsom after Bullet Train's timely arrival

IT WAS the weekend that Henry Cecil was supposed to strengthen his grip on the Investec Oaks with Timepiece – but as it turned out he now appears to hold stronger claims in the Derby.

Timepiece had been winter favourite for the fillies' Classic after a good juvenile campaign and despite defeat on her seasonal reappearance in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket, she held on to her position at the head of the market.

Carrying a 3lb penalty in the totesportcasino.com Oaks Trial at Lingfield, the Zamindar filly was sent off the 4-7 favourite. However, she failed to come down the hill with any great fluency and Tom Queally got drawn into a protracted battle with Ceilidh House some three furlongs out which would not have helped.

Even so, if she was Classic material she should still have had enough to oblige but John Gosden's seemingly exposed Dyna Waltz (7-1) wore her down close home to win by a length. A downcast Cecil said: "She was disappointing. She was hanging a bit and I don't know whether she's still a baby or she just didn't stay. She didn't run like she works."

Just 30 minutes later, though, Bullet Train (11-4) emerged as a real contender for the blue riband after making every yard of the running under Queally in the totesport.com Derby Trial.

Having only previously run twice, he was open to lots of improvement but this was still a massive step forward and ironically his Derby prospects probably rest on how Workforce, also owned by Khalid Abdullah, performs in the Dante this week.

"He is in the King Edward VII Stakes and we thought he was a Royal Ascot horse, but I'm not saying he won't go to the Derby," said Cecil.

"We'll just see what the trials bring and what Prince Khalid wants to do.

"He's still a baby and he has improved. He is beginning to bloom, but he has got to go on improving another couple of steps to be a Derby contender."

Irish trainer David Marnane is proving a dab hand at plundering valuable prizes in Britain as his Dandy Boy (16-1) followed up the victory of Santo Padre in the Portland last season, beating hot favourite Mabait in Ascot's Victoria Cup. "His comeback run at Dundalk was very good, and although we were a bit worried about his (low) draw he did it really well," said Marnane, whose charge could return for the Royal Hunt Cup next month.

Another Ascot winner was David Elsworth's durable mare Barshiba, who has the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot as her aim after victory in the John Doyle Buckhounds Stakes.

The totesport.com Swinton Hurdle at Haydock attracted its usual competitive field but was won in fine style by Nicky Henderson's Eradicate.

The quicker ground and an 11lb pull at the weights helped him turn the tables on his Scottish Champion Hurdle conqueror Overturn.

He was also ably assisted by 7lb claimer David Bass, who said: "He was a good Flat horse, rated 104. The guv'nor said they would go quick and he had the pace to travel."

Sir Mark Prescott could have some fun with Prescription this season after she made a winning return in Nottingham's Weatherbys Bank Kilvington Fillies' Stakes.

"We wanted to train her to win some black type as she was just beaten for some last year," said Prescott.

Yesterday saw Midas Touch stake his claim for Classic honours when giving Aidan O'Brien his eighth success in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

The son of 2001 winner Galileo came from last to first under a confident ride from Johnny Murtagh to beat fellow 2-1 joint-favourite Address Unknown by two lengths.

Midas Touch was cut to 14-1 from 25-1 for the Investec Derby at Epsom month by William Hill, while Victor Chandler go 12s and Coral 16s.

"He finished the race very well and I believe it was a good time so I am delighted with it," said O'Brien.

"It was his first run and he was just ready to come and start, he'll come on a good bit. The horses have been very behind but we are getting there. Midas Touch was going to go for the Dante, but when Mikhail Glinka got injured we decided to come here."

Dermot Weld – in treble form on the card – was far from downcast after the effort of second-placed Address Unknown, offering a telling insight into the merit of the Group Two event, which has a rich recent history.

"It was a very good race and was won in a second faster time than Fame And Glory last year," Weld said. "Pat Smullen said it is as good a Derby trial as will be run. He said he came to win the race and was just beaten by a very good horse."