Bandari in Derby picture, or is he?

Bandari, owned by noted Dubai businessman Abdullah Al Rostamani, trumpeted his Epsom Derby claims when winning the Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday by a record margin.

The three-year-old Alhaart colt, who reportedly cost £44,000, drew clear from his five rivals along the home straight and finished 13 lengths - a record winning margin in the race - clear of a four-way battle for second place, which eventually went to Long Goodbye. Wachi was third and Godolphin's Mamool fourth.

Interestingly Bandari, who is trained by Mark Johnston, does not hold an entry for the Epsom Classic which takes place on June 8.

However, he can be supplemented into the blue riband race at a cost of £90,000. According to reports there was an awful lot to like about performance of Bandari, who looks an outstanding colt and one capable of getting the gruelling Derby trip.

Johnston felt that supplementing the horse in at the prohibitive price would not be the right thing to do.

"I am a fan of the Derby but I don't see why the owner should have to pay more than twice the purchase price to run at Epsom," the Yorkshire trainer said in the Racing Post. "You can talk until the cows come home about this but £600,000 is a pittance for first prize, you can win more than that on a game show these days.

"He has less entries but the point is there are still numerous options for us for later in the season. We can go for the King George at Ascot or the Arc de Triomphe.

"I am not going to talk Mr Al-Rostamani out of paying the £90,000 if that is what he wants to do. But I think it is wrong that we should have 12 good reasons not to run in such a great race."

Responding to the talk of weather-or-not Bandari runs in the Derby, Epsom executive director Stephen Wallis said: "Mark's achievements in the last four weeks have been amazing and it is very sad that some of his horses are not already entered.

"I really hope he does supplement Bandari as that horse must be in with a shout."

On the ante-post betting front, two Aiden O'Brien-trained horses head the market. Hawk Wing is the 2-1 favourite and former Racing Post Trophy winner High Chaparral second favourite at 4-1.

Naheef is Godolphin's leading hope for the race they last won win Lammtarra in 1995, while King of Happiness represents another Dubai-based businessman Saeed Suhail.