BELLUM JUSTUM books Derby ticket with Blue Riband triumph

Bellum Justum halved in price for the Derby after Andrew Balding’s colt won the Betfred Blue Riband Trial at Epsom.
While he took four attempts to get off the mark as a juvenile, the form of his win over Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin now looks much stronger than it did at the time and he took another leap forward here.
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, he was content to take a lead off Ryan Moore on Aidan O’Brien’s Chief Little Rock and with those in behind struggling to get on terms, it soon developed into a battle.
Bellum Justum held a narrow advantage for much of the final furlong but while he was well on top of the Ballydoyle runner close home, Roger Varian’s Defiance began to stay on strongly.
Without looking like winning, he closed to within three-quarters of a length of the 9-1 winner, looking promising for the future on just his third outing.
Bellum Justum was cut to 25-1 from 50s for the Derby by both Coral and Paddy Power.
“He had a setback about a month ago and he missed 10 days, so he’s entitled to come on for that today,” Balding told Racing TV.
“His form looked pretty strong and he improved a lot with racing last year and he’s entitled to improve from two to three, so we were fairly sure he’d be there or thereabouts but we’re expecting him to come on for it.
“He’s in the Dante and if he was going to run again that would be the likely target, we’ll just see how the Guineas goes and the other trials and we might end up coming back here.
“He’s out of an Oasis Dream mare but he’s closely related to Fox Tal who stayed a mile and a half.
“He’s up there with our best three-year-olds but unfortunately the one we were really excited about, Anzac Day, has had a setback.”
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[@jeanlawley6483]

At 14/1 in the morning he was a good bet today ... can't believe the price, should never have been more than 3/1 .... doubled it also with Balding's other winner in the last Portsmouth 4/1

[@jeanlawley6483]

This is pretty decent form ... The winners also won his last run at Newmarket beating another O'Brien horse ... He came away from the field with Inisherin, who was a winner next time out over a horse called Kalpana also trained by Andrew Balding ... Kalpana won at the Craven meeting by 10 lengths ... so it's decent form

[@johnobrien8398]

This horse will win the derby like I’m going to win the Tour de France 🇫🇷

[@jeanlawley6483]

You have to make the team selection first, at least this horse has made the derby selection and acts on the course

[@jarvsie]

wanna buy a yellow jersey?

[@steelheart8573]

He's by Sea The Stars and they are always best on a quick surface. I had a sporting bet on him today.

[@Myles-Sherlock]

The second is the one to take from the race clearly

[@frankelforever14]

On a flatter track maybe, he didn't seem to handle the camber too well so he won't be having my Derby money anyway.

[@jeanlawley6483]

Doubt the second will run in the race

[@aman2340]

showed more heart

[@user-fs6sl2er1x]

The favourite was apparently the O'Brien talking horse for the Derby back to the drawing board

[@robertdelacy3434]

Haha no it wasn't

[@jeanlawley6483]

O'Brien will throw a pile of horses at the derby like he normally does because he hasn't got a clue about them and just hopes one will stick because that is run of its life ... never to be seen again ... like with Mullins its time to limit the number of horses any trainer can put in a race ... make the trainers, think about there selection more and make horse racing more interesting

[@jarvsie]

@@jeanlawley6483 so 3 different owners with derby class horses in the same yard, and only 1 of them can run? Stupid comment.

[@Fezzie_Mac]

Anyone who backed Chief Little Rock at odds-on, should seek help, IMMEDIATELY!

[@frankelforever14]

Martin Lewis did but unfortunately wont seek the help that he needs 🙈

[@duanedurkan3565]

What a ride by Ryan Moore. Pushing the pace on an unconfirmed 10 furlong horse and then going for home with 3 furlongs to race😂😂How could that possibly result in a win. Embarrassing performance by horse, trainer, and jockey, but all you'll hear from the O'Brien kiss asses is goat this and goat that and the punters have to look at this garbage. Jp O'Brien couldn't even win with a 8/15 and a 1/4 at Gorwan Park. Desperately bad training. Couldn't even prepare 2 certs to beat a few mules.

[@frankelforever14]

Yikes I'm guessing you did too Duane 😳

[@duanedurkan3565]

@frankelforever14 I backed it simply because I didn't see any opposition in the race. I was obviously concerned about the step up to 10 furlongs, but you have to assume the so-called GOAT knows what races will suit his horses. He got this completely wrong, and I had to point it out because he gets enough praise when he occasionally gets it right. Moore rode it like he knew it wasn't going to win aswell. He looked like he was going through the motions for the last 2 furlongs. O'Brien is painful to follow. His horses are nearly always short prices, and they often disappoint. JP O'brien couldn't even prepare 1 out of 2 well odds on shots to oblige at Gowran. It was beyond pathetic. I'll give the genius O'Brien's a swerve for a while because they're overrated and would leave you destitute if you kept following them. Obviously, City of Troy will win, but any trainer could win with that machine.

[@pauldonohoe3646]

​@@duanedurkan3565 You're so sad☹️😂

[@janetmarshall7171]

With a name like this?, how could this horse NOT!! Punched their ticket to the Derby!!❤😊

[@josephwright3293]

The second will reverse the form next time

[@jeanlawley6483]

Yea right, not on this course it won't

[@kurman4749]

Aidan O'Brien has several stronger contenders at home than Chief Little Rock, so he won't be losing any sleep over this result.

[@jeanlawley6483]

Yea he will just throw numbers at the derby like normal, because he has not got a clue as to which is best ... just hopes at least one will run well on the day ... other trainers have to be more skilful and pick the right horse for the race ... time to limit the number of runners a trainer has and then we will see better racing

[@Dwayndibb]

​@@jeanlawley6483I think the Galileo peak years it was hard to tell the best one for Epsom. Its also a unique track even for GB/ire. Epic really

[@user-ip4fd9fr6m]

Aidan O Brian got a great market on this he never run his best horses in this. Wait for the Dante and Chester

[@Dwayndibb]

Now you said it. Aiden will have found out if this horse will go to Chester or wherever. At this stage even The Leger looks difficult for him he needs to improve. People make out like the horse was beat by 10 lengths

[@kevinmunday6263]

Chief Little Rock could be a decent stayer maybe

[@steelheart8573]

Or hurdler maybe.

[@jarvsie]

I've taken 5 /2 for the 2025 triumph hurdle

[@Dwayndibb]

I thought Chief LR he battled on well. He didn't know he was favourite. The Racingtv pundits never paid him any respect. Its abit unfair considering he did all the donkey work but still never quit.

[@Eddie_Booth]

Wins the Derby easily.

[@jackitcovitz1816]

Hahahahahaha

[@kurman4749]

And the Arc and Breeders Cup.

[@davidfoster2006]

Very funny.

[@jarvsie]

@@kurman4749 and the oaks..

[@kevinmunday6263]

@@jarvsie 😂😂

[@bobhadland2554]

A poor ride again from r moore 😮😮😮

[@blairfoley7404]

Is just me but Aidan horses are not ruining well how will that affect city of Troy running next weekend I can see him being a non runner

[@jackitcovitz1816]

O’Brien horses at short prices so far this season have been hammered. Mind you like in previous years they need a run. You go back to Roderick O’Connor. Beaten a distance by Frankel and comes out winning Irish 2000. Too early to back them. Could City of Troy join them ? He did it with Rodin last year

[@musicmike1972]

​@@jackitcovitz1816 - they do usually need a run, only Martin Lewis would back them first time out 🤔

[@frankelforever14]

Aidan normally is behind at the start of the season with his string, similar to how Mullins was at the beginning of this season. But like Mullins he will have them ready for the big days that matter the most. I'd be more worried about City of Troys lack of scope than O'Brien not having his string all firing. Hopefully it doesn't stop him lighting up the Rowley Mile and he shows he has trained on into the monster most of us hope he has.

[@Dwayndibb]

​@@frankelforever14Atleast some people pay attention. In NH it is Gordon Elliott started the Season firing all cylinders. Then Willie just peaked his horses for Cheltenham. Its obvious what Coolmore are doing. As if winning some trial is a piece of some puzzle

[@davidfoster2006]

No Derby winner there.

[@duanedurkan3565]

Such a pathetic nothing ride by Moore. The horse couldn't possibly keep up the sprint for 3 furlongs on its first time running over 10 furlongs. He could have tried something to actually win the race by getting cover or something. Then you could forgive the ride, but instead, he does something an apprentice wouldn't do. Going for home on an unconfirmed stayer at the 3 pole. What a joke of a ride. Complete sitting duck waiting to be passed.

[@ccahill2322]

@duanedurkan3565, What a "genius." Why aren't you a trainer--of mules/

[@duanedurkan3565]

@ccahill2322 JP and Aidan O'Brien are the best men I have ever seen to make mule opposition look like derby horses. They place their horses so badly at wrong distances, ground unsuitable and send them to the track completely unfit. Get turned over then by mules like Aidan did at Epsom, and JP did at Gowran. Then everyone has a big love in for them when they get an occasional winner that probably trained itself. Nobody mentions the garbage we have to look at every year before they win classics with horses that anybody in training could win with. Steering jobs.

[@nightowl7459]

​@@duanedurkan3565Absolutely, I've been saying similar for a while now.

[@jarvsie]

Tellus about your successful riding career.

[@Dwayndibb]

​@@jarvsieThanks. These people on KZbin. There is obviously some idea they had for the horse going for the rest of the year. Like he stayed on really well considering he was out front for 1mile basically.

[@duanedurkan3565]

JP O'Brien must be a magician aswell as a trainer because It took some level of magic to make his horses ability disappear at Gowran today. Absolutely diabolical training. A mannequin would have enough intelligence to get at least one of his banker's Soul of Spain or Miss Tapley to oblige. The ineptitude is scary. It's not like he's gradually bringing them on. They're hardly Group one horses. He should be mopping up these egg and spoon races. The fact he's not able to do it would suggest he's greatly overrated. Even taking the 2 Melbourne cups into consideration.

[@user-bv6et4ih8g]

sure O'Brien has won nothing!

[@duanedurkan3565]

@user-bv6et4ih8g Which O'Brien, JP or his bookies supporter of a father. You never hear the end of it when they win a race but hear nothing about the relentless failure. Michael Winters is my favourite trainer. 2 Galway hurdles in a row with ordinary horse's. Absolute genius. If I'd a horse I'd beg the genius to get a tune out of it.

[@Dwayndibb]

​@@duanedurkan3565Your more like Eddie Durkan, Always drunk and never workin 😂😂

[@duanedurkan3565]

@Dwayndibbsvids 😂😂 my secret is out. Don't tell anyone because I'm hoping to get onto a tus scheme, and if they hear that there's no work in me, they mightn't give me the start🤪

[@jackitcovitz1816]

It might win a handicap race at Musselburgh Surely that’s what that stupid interviewer should have said to this trainer. Where are the pro journalists these days. Tommy Robinson took the Sky reporter to pieces.

[@jeanlawley6483]

Its already won well at Newmarket .... so Musselburgh lol, doubt its ever gonna run there

[@ronaldparsons2131]

Nothing race

[@galdessa1]

(slow by 2.95s)

[@musicmike1972]

It's a Derby entry ticket but not a proper trial...

[@nightowl7459]

​@@musicmike1972At least they will know if there horse handle the course.

[@musicmike1972]

@@nightowl7459 - agree and that is important at Epsom but I would wager you might not find the Derby winner there 😉.

[@nightowl7459]

@@musicmike1972 Very, very unlikely, but you can never fully discount anything at the moment.