GOODWOOD stages its opening meeting of the 1997 season today when the Westminster Taxi Insurance Predominate Stakes looks Newmarketbound courtesy of Grapeshot.
The Luca Cumani trained colt is one of four runners with a Derby entry and success today in what is the final major Epsom trial will see his current odds of 25 to 1 for the Classic tumble.
And the signs are that Grape shot is progressing nicely towards his target on the first Saturday in June. His four runs as a juvenile produced two victories, stamping him as a colt of some class as he proved on his reappearance when he only just failed to make all in the City Index Craven Stakes at Newmarket.
He had to give best by three quarters of a length to Desert Story who has since stamped the form with two good performances, in the 2,000 Guineas and last week's Grosvenor Casinos Dante Stakes at York.
Although his trainer cannot see current Derby favourite Entrepreneur getting beaten at Epsom he is hopeful that his charge will be there to launch a challenge.
