Douglas Macarthur came out on top in a Ballydoyle-dominated finish to the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has saddled 10 previous winners of this prestigious event, with subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) - as well as four-time Gold Cup victor Yeats (2004) - among those on the roll of honour.

This year O'Brien fired three bullets and though Douglas Macarthur had fared best of of the trio when runner-up in the Ballysax Stakes a month ago, he was the Ballydoyle outsider at 7/1.

Emmet McNamara's mount set out to make all the running, but stablemate Capri, fourth in the Ballysax, ranged alongside rounding the home turn.

Yucatan, who finish third in the Ballysax, was the 13/8 favourite, and he finished strongly to set up a grandstand finish.

However, Douglas Macarthur clung on grimly against the rail to score by a head.

Yucatan just beat Capri to the runner-up spot.

STAYS ALL DAY

McNamara said: "They were three very nice horses and it was just nice to be on one of them.

"He stays all day and he shouldn't have any problems getting a mile and a half. He's a typical Galileo - he gets his head down and really tries."

McNamara added: "Turning in, I thought I might be in a bit of trouble but staying won the day for him. I rode him plenty at home over the winter and know him well. He's a very uncomplicated horse, and I don't see any reason why he wouldn't act around Epsom.

"He's a well-balanced horse, and he can jump smart from the gates and get a position and travel."

THIRD COURSE WIN

British raider Custom Cut dominated from the front in the Ard Glen Construction Amethyst Stakes.

David O'Meara's charge brought strong course form to the Foxrock circuit, having twice won at the track, and was a 9/2 shot under Daniel Tudhope.

The eight-year-old was soon bowling along at the head of affairs and while the Dermot Weld-trained Raymonda was produced with what looked a timely challenge by Pat Smullen, Custom Cut stuck to his guns admirably to seal a half-length success.

Cougar Mountain finished strongly to take third place, another nose in arrears.

Tudhope said: "He obviously likes it here. I wanted to make it a good test of stamina as he's a tough horse to pass. To come back here and win a Group 3, he's still got it."

O'Meara said: "He likes it around here. He won the Boomerang a couple of years ago and was second in it last year. Ideally, he wants a little more juice in the ground but he's an older horse and he's very sound.

"I thought it was a brilliant ride by Danny. He made it a good test, and I thought the horse did very well.

"I'm not really sure where he will go next. We are a little bit different with him this year as he normally wins a Group race at the back-end of the season and then carries a penalty all year which made the early season options a bit hard.

"This year he has a bit more scope to pick and choose his races. We'll give him a couple of weeks and he'll be out again. He'll go for another Group 3 or go back up to a Group 2.

"He'll more than likely come back here on Irish Champions Weekend for the Boomerang and also later in the year the Joel at Newmarket.

"They are the two races that he likes."

BOLGER STRIKES

Bean Feasa eventually wore down the front-running Asking to claim top honours in the Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial.

The Jim Bolger-trained Bean Feasa was the 100/30 favourite shot to open her account at the sixth attempt in this Group 3 contest.

Asking gave a bold sight in front under Ana O'Brien and briefly looked to have her rivals on the stretch early in the straight.

However, her stride began to shorten racing inside the final furlong and Bean Feasa was ultimately well on top as she passed the post two and three-quarter lengths ahead in the hands of Kevin Manning.

Bolger said: "She relished the faster ground and obviously that opens up new opportunities for her. Hopefully she will progress now from here.

"She can step up in trip later on and is going to be versatile. She doesn't want soft ground but I'd say she will be alright after that.

"We were happy enough going to Gowran last week but there was a downpour at 12 o'clock on Sunday and that scuppered her chance.

"She still ran well and recovered well afterwards. She's hardy.

"We'll have to see about the (Irish) Guineas but I wouldn't rule it out."

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