Endorsement gives boost to Classic trial form ahead of Epsom

Endorsement gave a timely boost to the form of several Derby contenders with a straightforward success in the King George V Cup at Leopardstown.

Second to Christmas Day first time out this season, Aidan O’Brien’s colt was most recently third to James J Braddock and Pierre Bonnard over 10 furlongs here last month.

All three of those go to Epsom on Saturday, and while Endorsement will not be going for the blue riband he made light work of this Listed assignment under Ryan Moore, as odds of 1-4 suggested he would.

O’Brien said: “We were thinking of whether he’d be a (Queen’s) Vase (Royal Ascot) horse or whatever, so it’s possible he could be. We didn’t know how far he’d stay. A mile and a quarter is as far as he’s gone. He could be a Vase horse; could be a King Edward horse. Ryan was very happy with him.

“His form is solid and, it was nice to see him running well anyway (given his form with Derby horses).”

In the opener, Dylan Browne McMonagle produced a late challenge on Blonde Over Blue to get up and make a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Margot Mae set the early pace and was still at the head of the field when they turned from home with Aidan O’Brien’s 2-1 joint-favourite Ibelieveicanfly sitting on her heels, but when asked with a furlong to go the latter failed to pick up.

That left the door open for the 400,000 guineas buy Blonde Over Blue to charge down the outside and the Joseph O’Brien-trained 6-1 shot timed her challenge to win by three-quarters of a length from O’Brien senior’s Alpha who also finished strongly.

O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with that. She is a nice filly. It was a strong maiden and she got a lovely position, found the line well and you’d be excited about her future.

“I suppose the plan would be either the Chesham at Ascot or come back here for the Silver Flash Stakes later in the summer.

“We’ll see how she pulls up and discuss it with Mr. Oxley and the ownership group from there. I think that (Silver Flash) might be the route we go down after discussing it with the ownership.”