Stanhope Gardens on course for Derby assignment

The Betfred Derby dream remains alive for Stanhope Gardens following his victory at Salisbury on Saturday.

Ralph Beckett’s Ghaiyyath colt had little trouble winning a three-runner race over a mile and promises to be even better over further.

He has just a neck to find with Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix from their run in the Autumn Stakes last term, and that one finds only stablemate The Lion In Winter ahead of him in the betting for the Classic.

Stanhope Gardens is trained by Ralph Beckett, who also hopes to run Dante winner Pride Of Arras.

“There’s every chance he’ll run in the Derby,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to part-owner Marc Chan of Marcstown Ltd.

“We need to see how he comes out of the race, but everyone seems keen to be heading to Epsom.

“He needs to be thriving, but hopefully that will be the case and hopefully we’ll be at Epsom.

“I felt very much afterwards that Hector Crouch’s body language spoke volumes. Sometimes jockeys can start talking about how good a horse is, but Hector just had a sparkle in his eye, he was like the cat who had just got the cream!”