WHILE the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom can produce a decent winner, you have to go a long way back into history to find the last victor who went on to take the main event itself.

Peter Pan in 1939 was the last horse to win the Trial before going on to Derby glory and, given the highest-rated runner in today's race is off a mark of 99, the mile-and-a-half event appears to be a Derby Trial in name only again.

That said, there are a clutch of unexposed runners in the field and nap selection TOP BEAK could be worth taking a chance on despite having to find a chunk of weight with top-rated Humphrey Bogart.

Top Beak has had just the one start to date, when he was something of a rare first-time-out winner for Hughie Morrison at Windsor last October.

Triumphing over an extended mile, Top Beak ground out a head victory over Mountain Bell and, while the verdict was hardly impressive, the fact the second, third, fourth and fifth have all won since certainly gives the form a pleasing lustre.

Ennaadd was one of those in behind and given he now boasts a rating of 106, Top Beak's win looks pretty good.

The Lawman colt, ridden today by Jimmy Fortune, has some way to go to make up into a Classic contender but the fact that Morrison runs at all is worth noting.

Not every horse acts around the undulating Epsom track, so the fact that PRENDERGAST HILL is already a course winner counts as a massive positive in the Investec Corporate Banking Great Metropolitan Handicap.

The four-year-old won a 10-furlong event on the Downs last September on what was the last of his three 2015 outings for Ed de Giles.

He then returned to action over 11 furlongs at Kempton last month where he just could not make up ground quickly enough in finishing fourth, suggesting a step up in trip might be a wise option.

A couple of his siblings have been notable stayers so there is every hope 12 furlongs should suit under jockey Jim Crowley.

DARK RED can follow up on his recent Chelmsford success in the Investec City And Suburban Stakes.

Ed Dunlop's charge was securing a first career win that day as he had his first outing since last June, during which he had undergone a gelding operation. That change has clearly had a positive effect and he could be well treated off a mark of 81. Franny Norton has the ride.

THE BLACK PRINCESS was due to tackle last week's Fred Darling until the meeting was switched to the all-weather, so she must be worth supporting in the opening Happy 90th Birthday HM Queen Fillies' Handicap at Lingfield this evening.

A 25-1 shot for the 1000 Guineas, The Black Princess would clearly have to make significant strides from her Kempton maiden win last term to take a hand in the Classics.

However, John Gosden executed a similar plan with Jack Hobbs and while it would be dangerous to assume The Black Princess is of the same ilk, she looks a promising type.

FINE EXAMPLE can strike for Kevin Ryan in the racinguk.com/anywhere 3 Devices 1 Price Handicap at Catterick after showing glimpses of ability last term.

The battle for the trainers' championship continues apace at Perth and Taunton, with both Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls likely to be on the mark.

Mullins has made little secret of the fact he will be chasing the pennies this week as he attempts to be the first Irish-based handler to take the prize since the great Vincent O'Brien 62 years ago.

To that end, NAMBOUR is dropped back in class for the British Stallions Future Champions EBF "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle at Perth after twice placing in Graded company of late.

The six-year-old has chased home Acapella Bourgeois at Grade Two level at both Thurles and Fairyhouse on his two most recent outings, narrowing the gap from five lengths to just a head last time.

He was only beaten in the final strides that day but remains an animal of potential and one that can bag an all-important first prize in this £18,000 event, with stablemate Up For Review also due to pick up a chunk of cash.

Nicholls sends a similarly talented individual into battle at Taunton as ALL SET TO GO tackles the Bathwick Tyres Yeovil Novices' Hurdle.

He was a useful performer on the Flat in Ireland back in 2014, being beaten just two and a half lengths by subsequent Group One winner Fascinating Rock in the Ballysax Stakes, before changing hands and joining Nicholls.

All Set To Go was well beaten on his hurdling bow that autumn but, having had a wind operation, he made a much better impression when winning on his seasonal bow this term.

Yanworth proved far too good in a Grade Two event before Christmas, while soft ground at Wincanton in January would hardly have played to the strengths of this son of Verglas.

Returned to better ground last time, he ran out a comfortable winner at Taunton and while this £7,500 contest will offer only limited help to Nicholls' championship bid, the old supermarket slogan of 'every little helps' certainly applies in the dying days of the season.