Godolphin team losing esteem

The Godolphin hopes for this season's Classics drifted in the ante-post markets after failing to impress in their trials at Nad Al Sheba racecourse in Dubai yesterday.

Mark Of Esteem seemed to put up a reasonably satisfactory display in his test but William Hill pushed the colt out from 7-1 to 9-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. Godolphin's 1,000 Guineas challenger, Bint Shadayid, failed to sparkle when she was put through her paces. Hills made her an 8-1 chance (from 7-1).

"The trials overall went fine but we wouldn't want to be too upbeat about things at this stage," Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said.

Mark Of Esteem was one of eight horses added to the Derby entries at yesterday's supplementary stage. This colt was at the centre of last year's split between Sheikh Mohammed and Henry Cecil.

The eight new entries, at a cost of pounds 8,000 each, also included Cecil's unraced Clever Cliche. The other six were: Beauchamp King (J Dunlop), Bonarelli (M Stoute), Glory Of Dancer (P Kelleway), Shaamit (W Haggas), Spinning World (J Pease, France), and Tagula (I Balding).