Knight To Behold sparks Derby dreams for Harry Dunlop

Harry Dunlop has the Investec Derby in his sights with Knight To Behold after the exciting colt got off the mark at the second time of asking at Newmarket.

Beaten just a nose on his debut in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes at Nebury, he was sent off the 11-8 favourite to go one better. While it was not plain sailing, he eventually prevailed by a neck over Bow Street in the British EBF Racing UK Novice Stakes.

Dunlop said: “They made it very hard for him as William Buick (on Bow Street) tried to quicken up off a slow pace and my horse wouldn’t have liked that, but his talent got him through it.

“We’ve always liked him and he’s bred to be a mile-and-a-half horse. We’re pleased he’s won as he deserved it last time, he’s exciting and will go for a Derby trial now.”

He added: “We’ll look at all options and see how he gets on over the winter, somewhere like Lingfield might be a bit sharp. He’ll be in the French Derby as well, but personally I think he’ll be better over a longer trip (than 10 furlongs) once he gets organised.

“He works with Fighting Irish (French Group Two winner) and has done some nice work with him, that horse has just won a Group Two and they are two really nice colts.

“My father (John Dunlop) trained Millenary (St Leger winner) and Let The Lion Roar (Derby second) for the same owners and this horse is from the same family.”

Charlie Appleby and Buick were in double form, with Key Victory (100-30) sprouting wings to win the 32Red.com Novice Stakes.

Appleby said: “His homework has been good the last 10 days to two weeks. He is a horse that has only come to himself in the last six weeks and he is a typical late burner.

“The penny has started to drop and he has started filling into himself. We were confident coming here today that he would run a nice race. We will put him away now and look where we are in the spring.”

Brundtland (6-1) looked a stayer of the future in completing the Appleby/Buick brace, making a winning debut over 10 furlongs in the Discover Newmarket Maiden Stakes.