Eternal Spring blooms in Trial

Eternal Spring is 40-1 with the Tote for the Derby after winning the Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom yesterday. He made most of the running and, having been headed, battled back to beat Modish. The Dee Stakes at Chester may be Eternal Spring's next target.

Eternal Spring is 40-1 with the Tote for the Derby after winning the Blue Riband Trial Stakes at Epsom yesterday. He made most of the running and, having been headed, battled back to beat Modish. The Dee Stakes at Chester may be Eternal Spring's next target.

The City And Suburban Handicap was won by Night Venture, who was last but two at Tattenham Corner, but ploughed through the heavy ground to score by a length from Captain's Log.

Zilarator found the testing conditions ideal in the Great Metropolitan Handicap. He led in the final furlong to beat Blue Style, who had been hemmed in against the stands' rail and looked unlucky. Montecristo, the 3-1 favourite, was third.

There were 41 acceptors yesterday for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket a week on Saturday, including six from Godolphin and five from Aidan O'Brien's stable. O'Brien's five are: Giant's Causeway, Bach, Bernstein, Monashee Mountain and Royal Kingdom. Godolphin have left in Bachir, Broche, China Visit, Fath, Glad Master and Zoning. Frankie Dettori said yesterday: "Fath ran really well in the trial in Dubai - he's come along fine and it looks an open 2,000 Guineas."

Connections of Primo Valentino, the Mill Reef and Middle Park Stakes winner, are confident he will be effective over a mile. Primo Valentino may be ridden by Pat Eddery.

Petrushka and Bintalreef head the 35 acceptors for the 1,000 Guineas a week on Sunday. Dettori said: "Bintalreef was very impressive {in the Dubai trials] and we're all very positive about her, but don't look into the form too deeply as Teggiano got tired on me. Bintalreef will be our main aim for the 1,000 Guineas and she should give Petrushka something to think about."

There were six acceptors yesterday for the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on Sunday: Greek Dance, Kabool, Russian Hope, Indian Danehill, Chelsea Manor and Barbola.

Top Cees will try to win the Chester Cup for the third time a week on Wednesday. He is among 39 entries for the two-and-a-quarter-mile handicap. Top Cees (8st 13lb) races off a rating of 99, 4lb higher than when he won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last October.

* Racing continues to be hit by the weather. Yesterday's meetings at Catterick and Perth were abandoned (both waterlogged), and Perth and Beverley today are also off. Perth (2.45pm inspection today) tomorrow is in doubt - while the prospects for Saturday at Leicester (9.30am inspection today), Ripon and Sedgefield (inspections tomorrow) are grim. Market Rasen (inspection noon today), may stage an all-hurdles card.