Global Weekly Preview - 08.05.15

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor reports Maftool is in good shape for his seasonal debut in Europe, in Sunday's French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp, in which he is to meet well-regarded Irish colt Highland Reel.

Maftool was a real star for Godolphin during the winter in Dubai, winning the UAE 2,000 Guineas and then finishing a creditable second to Mubtaahij in the UAE Derby.

"It is a starting point for him over here," Saeed said. "He has done well since arriving in Newmarket from Dubai, and his last piece of work in preparation for this was good. I'm happy with him, and we will see where we go with him after this run."

Saeed hinted that a step up in distance looked on the cards after Longchamp, which is also expected to be the case with Highland Reel, the Ballydoyle colt who left a lasting impression when winning at Goodwood last summer.

One by one the pieces of the Investec Derby puzzle are slotting into place. But hopes that Sunday's Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown might establish a new outright favourite appear to have been dashed.

Trainer Dermot Weld's decision not to run Zawraq has deprived the race of that opportunity, and news that John F Kennedy is also to by-pass the time-honoured trial means that he must wait longer for the chance to redeem his reputation following defeat last time.

Success Days, the colt who won that race at Leopardstown on 12 April for trainer Kevin Condon, is currently in brilliant form and is set to run a big race. But Weld may still play a strong hand as he relies on a filly, Summaya, who on her last outing in a listed race at Navan finished only half a length behind Diamondsandrubies, subsequently an impressive winner of the Cheshire Oaks earlier in the week.

Weld said Zawraq, owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, could now run in the Irish 2,000 Guineas or go for a racecourse gallop prior to a decision being taken on Epsom.

With John F Kennedy out of the Derrinstown, Ballydoyle rely on Order Of St George and Cradle Mountain.

Another Epsom pointer is expected to be found in Saturday's Lingfield Derby Trial. The John Gosden-trained Christophermarlowe steps up in trip following his solid four-length victory in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom on April 22.

A feasible Lingfield contender is the Luca Cumani-trained Bartholomew Fair, the winner of a Yarmouth maiden from only three starts. Cumani thinks highly of the colt though he has expressed fears that the distance could be an issue. "I don't know whether he will stay. We will find out here," he said.

Kilimanjaro, with Ryan Moore aboard, is another strong contender in the five-runner field.