Ratings Update: Classic Trial reaction 1s581j

Aidan O'Brien completely dominated the Classic trials last week, starting with victory for Minnie Hauk (Timeform rating 100p from 85p) in the Cheshire Oaks on the first day of Chester's May Festival. Minnie Hauk, a €1.85 million purchase as a yearling, had made a promising start to her career as a juvenile, getting off the mark at the second attempt with victory in a mile maiden at Leopardstown, and she coped well with the rise in class to score at listed level on her reappearance.

Minnie Hauk was stepping up more than three furlongs in trip in the Cheshire Oaks and she relished the extra emphasis on stamina, finding plenty to win by a length. That performance represented marked improvement from Minnie Hauk, though she's rated slightly lower than a typical winner of the Cheshire Oaks in the last ten years and some way below subsequent Irish Oaks winner Savethelastdance who ed a figure of 115 when storming 22 lengths clear in testing conditions in 2023.

She is rated a long way shy of Oaks favourite Desert Crown, whose Fillies' Mile form last season earned her a rating of 118, but Minnie Hauk looks likely to appreciate a further step up in trip at Epsom and is worth her place in the line-up.

The Chester Vase, the next race on the card, was won by Lambourn (112p from 104) who had shaped like one who would appreciate a longer trip when runner-up to Delacroix in the Ballysax Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown in March and duly showed improved form when upped to a mile and a half at Chester.

Lambourn was shaken up half a mile out and firmly ridden on the turn for home, but he stayed on strongly in the straight to power a length and a half clear of runner-up Lazy Griff with that one two lengths clear of the third, Convergent. He's rated in line with a typical winner of the Chester Vase over the last decade and 10 lb behind the pick of the three-year-olds we've seen this season in 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court.

He would be suited by a strong gallop at Epsom, with Timeform's reporter noting that he "strikes as the type to run well in the Derby next month with further improvement on the cards, even if he does prove vulnerable to classier types".

Classy Mount Kilimanjaro bounces back

The winner of the Dee Stakes the following afternoon, Mount Kilimanjaro (113p from 106), performed to a similar level as Lambourn. Mount Kilimanjaro had progressed well during his two-year-old campaign, g off for the season with a runner-up effort behind stablemate Twain in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, but he had been disappointing on his seasonal reappearance at Dundalk where he was turned over at 1/4. He had clearly benefited from the run at Dundalk, however, and got back on the up at Chester where he stayed on strongly from the rear to win a soundly-run race.

Like Lambourn, he too remains open to further improvement, with the step up to a mile and a half likely to be in range based on his strength at the finish. His performance in Dee Stakes was just about the best since Magician, who was also trained by Aidan O'Brien, struck in 2013.

O'Brien's excellent week at Chester continued when St Leger runner-up Illinois (121 from 119) arguably proved better than ever to defy a penalty on his return to action in the Ormonde Stakes. Illinois had to give weight to some smart rivals, but he proved up to the task, staying on strongly to beat Al Qareem by a length and a quarter with Absurde half a length back in third. His performance rating of 121 is the best in the race since Brown Panther ed the same figure in 2014.

Illinois stayed the St Leger trip well last season, losing out in a tussle with stablemate Jan Brueghel, and he would be a fascinating addition to the Cup scene, for all his connections also have Kyprios whose rating of 128 marks him out as the t-highest-rated horse in Britain or Ireland. It also wouldn't be a surprise were he capable of making an impact in Group 1s at around a mile and a half, mindful of the lack of top-class older horses on the scene.

The week's big handicap, the Chester Cup, was won by well-backed 9/4 favourite East India Dock (104 from 99+). East India Dock was a progressive handicapper during his time with James Fanshawe last season and had enjoyed a productive time of things over hurdles for James Owen, winning his first three starts over jumps before finishing third in the Triumph Hurdle.

The level of form East India Dock showed over hurdles suggested he was potentially well treated back on the Flat and he proved that by winning the valuable Chester Cup. East India Dock stayed on strongly to score by a length and probably would have won with even greater authority had the race been run at a stronger gallop. It's unlikely he's reached his limit on the Flat and he's likely to be a leading contender for the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot.

O'Brien lands Lingfield trials

At Lingfield on Saturday, Giselle (106p from 90p) faced a simple task on her return in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield but she still impressed in brushing aside her two rivals with ease. The race was run at a slow pace, perhaps unsurprisingly given the very small field, but Giselle was still able to completely outclass her rivals and put in some good late work on the sectional clock to earn a significant upgrade.

She's bred to be out of the ordinary being a daughter of Frankel out of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Newspaperofrecord and there's every chance she will take a big step forward when presented with a more serious test.

Giselle's trainer O'Brien had the one-two in the Derby Trial with Stay True (111p from 95p). Puppet Master went into the Lingfield Derby Trial with the best form on offer courtesy of a good fourth in the Royal Lodge Stakes on his final start at two, but he had to step up to fend off his promising once-raced stablemate who understandably proved a bit green under pressure, and it would be little surprise were the placings to be reversed should they meet again.

He performed to a similar level on ratings to Chester winners Lambourn and Mount Kilimanjaro so is clearly worth his place in the Derby, though perhaps lacks the same potential for improvement as that pair. He is also rated slightly lower than a typical winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial with the average Timeform performance rating of the past ten winners coming in at a shade over 112.

Runner-up Stay True, who is from Galileo's final crop, isn't entered in the Derby but is in the Irish Derby. He has made a highly encouraging start to his career and remains likely to do better, so it's plausible he could provide his great sire with one final winner at the highest level.

O'Brien's domination with the Classic contenders continued when Delacroix (remains 116p) landed the Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, following up his win in the Ballysax Stakes without needing to improve on that effort or match the form he had shown when narrowly denied in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy last season. The form of Delacroix's win in the Ballysax had already been given a few boosts by runner-up Lambourn landing the Chester Vase, fourth-placed Puppet Master winning the Lingfield Derby Trial and fifth-placed Wemighttakedlongway's success in the Salsabil Stakes.

Delacroix is out of a multiple Grade 1-winning miler Tepin, but he's a half-brother to Grateful, who won the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu over a mile and three-quarters, and he looks likely to be suited by the step up to a mile and a half at Epsom. His two races this year have been run at modest gallops at best, but he remains capable of raising his game when faced with a truer tempo.