Kirby Calls It: Coral Winter Derby Day at Lingfield

It’s Coral Winter Derby Day at Lingfield and Coral’s All-Weather ambassador Adam Kirby rides the favourite in the feature, plus two more very well fancied horses, here’s his thoughts…

3:05 Lingfield – coral.co.uk Winter Derby (Group 3)
It’s a cracking renewal and every horse in the race is there on merit. I ride Tryster for Mr Appleby. We really like him a lot. He’s been doing everything right and has really stepped up markedly this year. But this isn’t a handicap, it is a very hot race and he’s going to need to produce a big performance to win it. He is unbeaten on a synthetic surface and is three out of three this season. His win last time at Kempton was a nice run under top weight. He came out of that really well. He’s got a good draw in stall four, the trip is ideal so we’re going there with confidence and I think he’ll run a big race. I’m really looking forward to riding him. Of course in a race like this there’s going to be plenty of dangers. Grendisar is the obvious place to start given he beat Cloudscape and Grandeur in the Winter Derby Trial last month. I know Grendisar well, haven ridden him a few times and he loves it around Lingfield. He’ll need the race run to suit him; he’s a hold up performer and likes to come off a decent gallop. He has loads of gears and is really tough. Grandeur was having his first run since last October when he ran in the trial and should come on for that. He won the big Coral race on Finals day last April. He’s got Ryan Moore in the saddle so he’s a danger. Cloudscape is another one with a big chance. He ran a little fresh the last day and if he settles better, he’ll be in the frame. Battalion is another one you have to respect. You could go on, it’s a deep race and as I’ve said my horse will need to improve to win a race like this but we do like him and are very hopeful.

2:30 Lingfield
I ride Four Seasons in the race. I put him up as a horse to follow at the start of the season and he hasn’t disappointed. He’s progressed really well on this surface over the winter. He’s a lovely horse that is going the right way. It’s a very competitive race but I’m really excited to be riding him. I didn’t ride him the last day as I was suspended but won on him twice before that. What I like about him is that he has lots of speed and gear change and yes, he’ll need to be very good today. It’s a hot little race. Angelic Lord is making his seasonal bow. But he has some nice form in the book. He won nicely at Doncaster last season and was sixth in the Coventry and fifth behind Ivawood in the July Stakes. Burnt Sugar is the highest rated in the race. His Dubai form wasn’t great but if he returned to his best, he’d be a big danger. He’s won both his polytrack starts. I’d like to think that there’s plenty more to come from my horse. I’m confident he’ll be in the shakeup. I really like this horse.