Classic Trials: Cape Of Good Hope was impressive at Epsom, but which races have produced the most Derby winners?

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE was trimmed into 20-1 for the Derby following his tidy win at Epsom on Wednesday.

But the 'Blue Riband Trial' has a shocking record for producing genuine Classic contenders. Which Derby trials have proved the most reliable in the 21st century?

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Looking through the winners of the great race since 2000, it's difficult to argue with the sentiment that 'the Guineas is the best Derby trial', a line which is regularly trotted out after Newmarket's Classic in early May.

Of the past 19 winners of the Derby, six have either won or finished placed in that season's 2000 Guineas, which is staged around a month before Epsom.

They include last year's hero Masar, who was a close third in the 2000 Guineas before going two places better in the Derby.

Other victors to have successfully made the transition from a mile to 1m4f are Sir Percy (2006), who was second in the Guineas, New Approach (2008 - second in both the English and Irish Guineas before Epsom), Sea The Stars (2009), Camelot (2012) and Australia (2014).

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The Dante Stakes at York has also proved a reliable yardstick regarding future Derby heroes.

In the past 18 years, five horses have either won or finished second in the York Group 2 before landing the historic Group 1.

North Light (2004), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) all successfully used the 1m2.5f Dante as a stepping stone to Epsom glory.

Workforce was second in 2010 but went one better in the Derby, while the brilliant Golden Horn (2015) is the latest to complete the double.

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The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown is often referred to as one of the key lead-up races for the Derby.

But since Sinndar (2000), Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) made it a hat-trick in the Derby for Derrinstown winners, the Group 3 has endured something of a barren spell (albeit a number have gone pretty close in defeat).

All three of the winners mentioned above had also contested the Ballysax Stakes before the Derrinstown, and that trial received a welcome boost in 2016 when Harzand was successful en route to his Derby win.

But, again, that trial's overall record is somewhat underwhelming when it comes to the Derby itself - something of a worry for supporters of this year's Ballysax winner Broome (currently 12-1 for the Derby).

The Chester Vase has fared well in recent seasons, with Ruler Of The World (2013) and Wings Of Eagles (2017) both successful graduates from the 1m4f Group 3.

The Dee Stakes and Prix Greffulhe have provided one winner apiece since 2000, with Kris Kin (2003) and Pour Moi (2011) treading that unfamiliar path to Epsom success.

The trials with a particularly shocking recent record are the Lingfield Derby Trial, Sandown Classic Trial and Cocked Hat Stakes, not to mention Epsom's own Blue Riband Trial.

So when it comes to picking your selections for the Derby on 1 June, recent history suggests you should focus on the form of the 2000 Guineas or Dante.

And don't be put off if you're horse can only finish second or third in either of those contests, as a placed effort prior to the Derby has been no barrier to success in the past.