Derby favourite High Definition ready to return at Lingfield

Ante-post favourite for the Cazoo Derby, High Definition, has been pencilled in for a prep run at Lingfield on Saturday.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien hopes to send him over for the Novibet Derby Trial Stakes.

Nine winners of the race, including the stable's Anthony Van Dyck in 2019, have gone on to triumph at Epsom.

High Definition is as low as 5-2 for the Derby, on the back of his success in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in September.

The yard's Santa Barbara showed an outing in advance of yesterday's Qipco 1000 Guineas might have given her vital experience – and O'Brien believes High Definition would benefit from a trip to England.

“We’re thinking of going to Lingfield,” he said.

“He needs to start and with all the trials we’re just trying to split them up.

“He’s a baby and we’re worried about Lingfield, but we have to learn.

“What’s different about him is his stride is half a stride longer than everything else.

“He’s going to learn a lot.”

High Definition is also one of 17 O'Brien entries in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes on May 13, alongside 2000 Guineas eighth Van Gogh.

He fared best of O’Brien’s three runners in the opening Classic of the season, behind 16-1 winner Poetic Flare.

“Van Gogh ran well. He’s probably a horse for the Derby – stepping up in trip,” O’Brien said.

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