The most controversial entry was Diore Lia, a filly who had shown no racing ability in two starts and who was scheduled to be ridden by the inexperienced apprentice jockey Gina Mangan.
[6] Ireland staged the first notable trial for the 2017 English Derby when the Ballysax Stakes was run at Leopardstown Racecourse on 8 April and produced a considerable upset as Joseph O'Brien sent out Rekindling to win at odds of 16/1.
[8] In the Group 3 Craven Stakes (primarily a trial for the 2000 Guineas) over one mile two days later Eminent (from the first crop of foals sired by Frankel) scored an upset victory over Rivet with Godolphins Benbatl in third place.
[9] In the following week Epsom Racecourse staged the ten-furlong Investec Derby Trial, and in a very tight finish, Cracksman, from the Gosden stable, caught the Mark Johnston-trained Permian in the final stride to win by a short head.
[11] On the following day Leopardstown staged the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial which resulted in a clean sweep for the Aidan O'Brien stable as Douglas Macarthur won in a three-way photo-phinish from his stablemates Yucatan and Capri.
[15] The Dante Stakes at York Racecourse on 18 May attracted its usual strong field and saw Permian win from Benbatl, Crystal Ocean (a highly regarded colt from the Michael Stoute yard) and Rekindling.
When the race began, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Douglas Macarthur went to the front ahead of his stablemate The Anvil, and the pair quickly opened up a lead of several lengths over the rest of the field.
As the field turned into the straight, Douglas Macarthur still led from The Anvil, Venice Beach, Best Solution and Cracksman, whilst Cliffs of Moher, Eminent and the 40/1 outsider Wings of Eagles were towards the rear.
The Anvil and Venice Beach dropped back but Douglas Macarthur maintained his gallop and briefly went clear of the field before being overtaken by Cracksman approaching the final furlong.