The Roger Varian-trained Ektihaam, currently a 33/1 shot in the ante-post lists for the Betfair Epsom Derby 2012, on June 2, has not been asked to run in either of the blue riband trial races at the Chester May meeting. He will, instead, take his chance at York, later this month, in the Group 2 Dante Stakes, writes Elliot Slater.

The winner of three of his four career starts, Ektihaam’s only defeat came on the final outing of his juvenile campaign, when fancied to go well in the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, last October.

However, after being hampered at the start, the Hamdan al Makhtoum-owned colt took a fierce grip under the now-retired, Richard Hill,s and had more or less run himself into the ground by the time he was again squeezed for room approaching the final furlong.

He was eased when beaten in coming home a very disappointing last of nine behind the surprise Irish-trained winner, Parish Hall.

Very impressive on his first two starts as a two-year-old, when beating the well regarded, Harvard ‘N Yale, on his Newbury debut, then slamming Mizaaj by four-lengths in a conditions race at the Doncaster St Leger in September, Varian’s well bred son of Invincible Spirit returned to the fray at Newbury, last month.

He looked to be back at the top of his game, when accounting for Wrotham Abbey by five-lengths in a mile-and-a-quarter conditions event.

The step up to Group 2 company on the Knavesmire will be a serious test for Varian’s charge, but connections believe that the flat-galloping course will play to this strengths. Theyare hopeful that the 250,000 guineas yearling will live up to his hefty price tag, and do enough to earn himself a place in the starting line-up for the Derby, just a couple of weeks later.

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John Oxx’s horses are beginning to hit top form, and hopes are growing that his Akeed Mofeed, currently a general 14/1 second favourite for the Investec Derby at Epsom, on June 2, will state his case for classic honours with a big run at Leopardstown, three weeks earlier, in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, writes Elliot Slater.

The son of Dubawi missed his intended seasonal return at the Curragh, last month, after going lame for a couple of days, a setback that persuaded Oxx to sidestep a crack at the Qipco 2000 Guineas. He is reportedly back on track and eager to go, having proven himself a very capable performer, last term, and hinting that he could do even better, as a three-year-old. Enjoy betting on racing at Bet Victor.

Akeed Mofeed has always looked more of a middle-distance performer than a miler, as evidenced by his maiden victory over seven furlongs at Leopardstown, in September, where he slammed a decent field by five lengths, the runner-up Athens going on to run third in Group 2 company, later in the term.

On his final outing of the 2011 campaign, Oxx’s colt was allowed to take his chance on very heavy ground at the Curragh, in September, in the Group 2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes, over a mile. By common consent, he ran particularly well in conditions that did not suit him, in going down by just half-a-length to Ballydoyle’s David Livingston, having given the winner more than three lengths start into the final quarter mile.

Oxx, whose handling of the legendary, Sea The Stars, two season ago, confirmed his standing as one of the world’s great trainers, has always held Akeed Mofeed in high regard. However, the proof is very much in the pudding; Irish race fans and plenty on the other side of the water will be watching closely to see just how his latest potential star fares on his seasonal return.

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Last Instalment continued his preparation for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March by winning on his final run before the big novice race in the Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown.

The seven-year old made it four wins from four over fences with his latest victory when going off odds-on favourite for the Grade One contest. Ridden by Davy Russell, the Philip Fenton-trained runner jumped well and made all the running to come home in front of Call The Police who was the only danger jumping the last.

Last Instalment will now head to the Cheltenham Festival where he has been supported for the RSA Chase. It is unclear at this stage whether ante-post favourite Grand Crus will take the novice route or run in the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup where he could come up against Long Run and Kauto Star.

If connections of Grand Crus do decide on the RSA Chase, the Betfair horse race betting suggests he is the one they all have to beat. The talented gray is unbeaten this campaign in the start of his chase career.

He started things off this campaign at Cheltenham where he generated excitement with a 10 length victory ahead of Champion Court.

His latest win was at Kempton in the Feltham Novices’ Chase where he proved himself against Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth. David Pipe’s seven-year old finished second at the Cheltenham Festival last season in the World Hurdle behind and again at Aintree a month later at the Grand National meeting.

However, that was the end of that rivalry with connections of Big Bucks deciding against a step up to chase company.