United Nations wins at Lingfield as O’Brien’s Derby trial run goes on

Aidan O’Brien’s remarkable run through first week of trials for the Epsom Classics continued here on Saturday as United Nations, the 9-4 second-favourite, stayed on strongly up the home straight to beat Walk Of Stars, the favourite, in the Lingfield Derby Trial and earn a quote of around 10-1 for the Classic on 4 June.

Natural World, a stable-companion of Walk Of Stars, was on his toes before the start and sprinted into the lead from the off, with United Nations settling in behind and William Buick, on Walk Of Stars, unable to get any cover on the outside in third.

Natural World was still in front around the home turn but Ryan Moore soon stoked up United Nations – a 50-1 chance for the Derby on Saturday morning – to run him down and take charge. Walk Of Stars managed to close the gap under strong driving from his rider but also started to hang badly inside the final furlong and was still three-quarters of a length down at the line.

“Ryan was delighted with him,” Paul Smith, the son of United Nations’ co-owner, Derrick, said afterwards. “The trip suited, the conditions suited, he was very complimentary. The attitude’s there, he’s got the pedigree for a championship race and he’ll be in the mix now with all the other horses.”

Plumpton 1.40 Alioski 2.15 Mystical Clouds 2.50 Mr Woody 3.25 Slate House 4.00 Sainte Doctor 4.30 Sami Bear 5.00 Wick Green 5.30 El Muchacho

Ludlow 2.05 Leylak 2.40 The Wild Wild Sea 3.10 Eminent Poet 3.40 Sofia’s Rock 4.10 Barden Bella 4.40 Tikitov 5.10 You Name Him

Hamilton Park 3.50 Kind Spirit 4.18 Nordhalla 4.48 King Triton (nb) 5.18 Sound Reason 5.48 Aasser (nap) 6.18 Captain Haddock 6.45 Life On The Rocks

This latest success in a Derby trial leaves O’Brien with no fewer than six of the nine