He had already acquired a reputation on the basis of his performances on the training gallops and started favourite, but finished third, a failure ascribed to his lack of experience and dislike of the firm ground.

[8] The Golden Hair Colt returned after a break to contest the prestigious Champagne Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting in September.

[2] He then took the Imperial Produce Stakes on 10 October at Kempton Park, a win which allowed Joe Lawson to break the earnings record for a trainer in a British season.

[5] In the Free Handicap, a ranking of the season's best juveniles, he was given the top rating of 133 pounds, although he surprisingly had to share first place with his unbeaten stable companion Mannamead.

[11] On 8 April Orwell returned after the winter break to win the Greenham Stakes at Newbury Racecourse in which he raced over seven furlongs for the first time.

Ridden by Robert "Bobby" Jones, he started evens (1/1) favourite in a field of eleven runners for a race run on soft ground in cool and windy conditions.

Three furlongs from the finish he was switched left to obtain a clear run and made rapid progress to move up alongside the leader Dastur.

Orwell's pedigree (on his dam's side) and his style of racing (he had "the action of a sprinter"[12]) led to doubts about his ability to stay one and a half miles in the Derby,[13] but others argued that his sire was positive influence for stamina and his stable were reported to be confident following impressive performances in exercise.

[14] In the build-up to the Epsom Classic there were rumours of plans to prevent the horse from running and he was subject to strict security, appearing in the paddock before the race surrounded by guards and preceded by a mounted policeman.