Blue Riband Trial Stakes

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The Blue Riband Trial Stakes is a flat horse race in the United Kingdom for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 18 yards (2,028 m) at Epsom Downs Racecourse in late April.

It is the first of the recognised trial races for the Epsom Derby to take place in the season, and although the 1939 winner Blue Peter went on to capture the Derby, it has produced a limited number of contenders for the big race. Of recent winners, only Daliapour has finished placed in the Derby, finishing runner-up to Oath in 1999. Most winners will compete in another trial afterwards, and if they make it back to Epsom for the Derby they will at least have experience of the course, unlike many of the other runners. The 1997 and 1998 runnings took place over the full distance of the Epsom Derby course – 1 mile 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 m).

In 2008, while Epsom was closed for the redevelopment of its Grandstand, a replacement race took place at Nottingham with the title Intercasino.co.uk Conditions Stakes. This was contested over 1 mile 2 furlongs and 50 yards (2,057 m).

[edit] Winners since 1997

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Time
1997	Palio Sky	Pat Eddery	John Dunlop	2:39.94
1998	The Glow-Worm	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	2:51.44
1999	Daliapour	Gérald Mossé	Luca Cumani	2:13.38
2000	Eternal Spring	Kieren Fallon	Ed Dunlop	2:20.81
2001	Storming Home	Michael Hills	Barry Hills	2:20.79
2002	Swing Wing	Jimmy Fortune	Paul Cole	2:11.17
2003	Franklins Gardens	Darryll Holland	Mark Tompkins	2:09.70
2004	Bull Run	Johnny Murtagh	David Loder	2:20.44
2005	Hallhoo	Ted Durcan	Mick Channon	2:14.56
2006	Before You Go	Ian Mongan	Terry Mills	2:14.02
2007	Raincoat	Richard Hughes	John Gosden	2:08.35
2008	Curtain Call *	Jamie Spencer	Luca Cumani	2:14.44