Weekend Review: Camelot on brink of Triple Crown

Camelot took the Epsom Derby on Saturday, Aidan O'Brien's superstar colt a five-length winner of Britain's premier classic with Main Sequence just touching off Astrology for second. Camelot travelled well throughout the race and always looked like overhauling the front-running Astrology, who at one stage had a couple of lengths in hand of his pursuers, Camelot earning himself a Timeform rating of 130 in victory. The St Leger was immediately touted as a possible target for Camelot, with racing fans keen to see the Triple Crown landed for the first time in over forty years, although connections may be keen to keep him at a mile and a half, or even drop back in trip for the Eclipse Stakes.

The other Group 1 race on Derby Day was the Coronation Cup and it readily went to St Nicholas Abbey, with Red Cadeaux second and Masked Marvel back in third. St Nicholas Abbey's victory saw him awarded a career-best Timeform rating of 131 and top middle-distance races look likely to be on his agenda with the King George and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe potential targets. The way the son of Montjeu travelled and quickened was striking and he is likely to be very difficult to beat wherever he goes if in similar form next time.

The listed Woodcote Stakes was won by Chilworth Icon, who got the better of a hard fought finish with Heavy Metal to take the prize for Mick Channon. After finishing second over minimum trip on his penultimate start, Chilworth Icon proved the step up to six furlongs to be in his favour and the attitude he demonstrated to beat a solid rival was meritorious.

The handicap feature from the Surrey venue was the Epsom Dash, a race won by Stone of Folca, who defied a Betfair Starting Price of 85.084/1 in defeating Desert Law by half a length, with Catfish and Taajub filling the frame. Stone of Folca produced a career-best of 108 on Saturday and could now be targeted at pattern races, the gap between top handicaps and the bottom level Group races a fairly narrow one. He does seem best fresh, however, taking the race after a nine-month absence, and his overall record is a patchy one.

The Timeform Jury Stakes was the highlight at Haydock with Pastoral Player taking the Group 3 contest for Hughie Morrison. Pastoral Player produced a Timeform rating of 119 on Saturday, defeating Majestic Myles by a length and a half to finally reward connections with the pattern victory he has so often promised.The Diamond Jubilee Stakes or the Wokingham Handicap could be next for the strong-travelling five-year-old, who is likely to be suited by the way those contests tend to be run.

The other Group 3 race at Haydock was the Pinnacle Stakes won by Shimmering Surf for Roger Varian. A three quarter length victory over Set To Music marked a personal best for the filly who was having her second outing of the season after finishing runner-up at Goodwood. Saturday's form should prove relatively strong with the majority having run close to their best, Khawlah being a notable exception.

Slade Power was the winner of the Sandy Lane Stakes, a listed contest over six furlongs, whilst Inetrobil landed the listed Cecil Frail Stakes for Kevin Ryan and Philip Makin. Interobil has been relatively highly-tried in her career so far and there could be even better still to come from her with Saturday's performance of 103 1 lb superior to the form she demonstrated in the Albany Stakes last year.

The Edinburgh Cup and the Scottish Sprint Cup were the two feature races at Musselburgh on a card that was dominated by handicaps with Scatter Dice taking the former and Bajan Tryst providing the first leg of a cross-card double for Kevin Ryan in taking the latter.

Flat Racing on Saturday was completed with meetings at Beverley and Catterick, whilst there was also jumps action at Stratford and Cartmel. Tramore hosted a meeting on the level over in Ireland on Saturday and there was also good quality action in France, where Moonlight Cloud made a successful seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal.

There was Flat Racing at Nottingham on Sunday, as well as National Hunt action at Uttoxeter and Fontwell. Kilbeggan and Listowel both hosted cards over in Ireland, whilst the French Derby was the highlight in France.

The French Derby, or Prix du Jockey Club, was won by outsider Saonois, who had looked relatively exposed having finished fourth behind Kesampour in the Prix Greffulhe last time. However, the Antoine Hamelin-ridden colt took advantage in a race in which many of the form principals experienced traffic problems.

There were three Group 2s on the Chantilly card to supplement the feature race with Mick Channon's Laugh Out Loud taking the Prix de Sandringham, John Gosden's Aiken taking the Grand Prix de Chantilly and Wizz Kid victorious in the Prix de Gros-Chene. The King's Stand Stakes is likely to be next on the agenda for Wizz Kid, who still has time on her side to reward connections with a Group 1 victory.