Fran Berry Column: Interm on Derby Trial

I was very pleased with our first two-year-old runner of the season, Jim Rockford, who ran much better than his finishing position suggests. He was too keen for the first half of the race and didn’t get the best of runs around the furlong marker but came home well. It was a nice start.

There were good seasonal debuts too from Butterfly Lilly and Really Super and they are two to look out for in the weeks and months ahead.

I’m at Sandown on Friday for three rides starting with Trading Punches in the opening bet365 Esher Cup Handicap. His bare form doesn’t read like he’s quite good enough to win a competitive handicap like this but he has a good draw which is a huge help at Sandown in a big field.

It’s nice to have a ride for David Brown and John Fretwell, it's my first for them, and I hope the horse outruns his price for all he has to step up on bare figures.

There’s a small but select field for the bet365 Classic Trial in which I ride Intern. There are only five runners but we’re up against three Frankels and a Deep Impact. It’s going to be very interesting.

Monarchs Glen was very impressive when winning at Kempton – albeit in handicap company - and you couldn’t help but be taken by him. He looks the one to beat. His stablemate Cunco has an official rating of 104 and ran in a Group One last time while Frankuus was a Group Three winner in France last year.

Fierce Impact won a Yarmouth maiden on his only start at two and in my experience from Japan, Deep Impact’s progeny just get better with age. He could be anything.

Intern was bought out of David Wachman’s yard last year having won a good maiden at Leopardstown on quick ground on his debut and then finished third behind Capri at Tipperary. He’s been in the yard since September and has had a good winter. He’s training very well and we’re pleased with how he’s come along.

He’s shown us plenty and is working like a horse it’s worth having a shot at a Classic trial with. We’ll learn a lot more at Sandown but I’m hopeful of a good show in a fascinating race. My fellow is very straightforward and will enjoy the step up in distance. It’s a race that could be run at a good pace and I’m looking forward to it.

I have a fascinating ride aboard Love Conquers in the Nordoff Robbins Sir George Martin Memorial Maiden Fillies' Stakes. She was a very expensive yearling and is a half-sister to Japanese Derby winner Deep Brillante. I’m a big fan of Deep Impact as a stallion, he’s exceptional, the Galileo of Japan, and she has a wonderful pedigree.

She’s Oisin Murphy’s ride but as he’s suspended I step in and I sat on her for the first time on Thursday morning. She’s very nice and a lovely type of filly. It’s a warm maiden but I’d be hopeful of a good run. She could go well and finish fourth but is definitely an interesting one given her background and is a horse to watch out for.

My weekend plans have fallen apart a little after the rain didn’t arrive at Leicester. We were planning to send a decent team there but the ground is too quick so I head up to Doncaster for two Saturday rides.

I’m on Nicholas T for Jim Goldie in the opening crownhotel-bawtry.com Handicap. He wasn’t beaten far in a big field at Redcar last time and if improving for that would hopefully have an each-way chance in a competitive heat. 

Gilded Reflection is another horse to join Ralph’s team from David Wachman. She makes her debut for us in the China Rose Of Bawtry Maiden Stakes but is a filly I know well having ridden her three times in Ireland.

She was a very good second in a Leopardstown maiden back in 2015 and fifth returning there the next time from a bad draw. She only had one run last term when second at Killarney and has settled in very well to her new surroundings.

Coming back down to seven furlongs here may not be ideal but it’s a nice starting point for the season and with her experience, back into maiden company, I think she’ll run very well.