Trainer Morrison hopes Stay Well can run a big race in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood

Stay Well, a colt named to reflect the Covid-19 times rather than being a statement about stamina, makes a late bid to enter the Cazoo Derby reckoning when he lines up in the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood on Friday.

The Hughie Morrison-trained colt landed a maiden easily at Windsor last month and puts his Epsom credentials on the line in the last recognised trial for the Derby which is a fortnight on Saturday.

Morrison said: ‘It is a quantum leap for him. But his owners Martyn and Ben Arbib breed Derby winners. If he does run a big race and was in good shape, I am sure they would want to have a go.

Hughie Morrison-trained Stay Well will seek to make a late bid to enter the Derby reckoning

‘We could be criticised for aiming too high but Aidan O’Brien won the Derby last year with a horse (Serpentine) who went into the race having won a maiden. Stay Well was green at Windsor and he needs more experience if he is going to run at Epsom.’

On his colt’s name, Morrison said: ‘He was named Stay Well in recognition of the sayings this time last year, “Stay Alert, Stay At Home” — not necessarily that he would stay well.

‘I also reserved the name Stay Alert. That is the name of a two-year-old filly related to him.’

Two other colts in Friday’s trial — Lone Eagle and Yibir — are among the 29 remaining Derby entries, although trainer Charlie Appleby has said the latter is an unlikely starter.

Trainer Jim Bolger is hoping Mac Swiney can book his Derby berth when he runs in the Irish 2,000 Guineas tomorrow at the Curragh alongside stablemate Poetic Flare, who won the English Guineas before finishing sixth in the French equivalent last Sunday.

Meanwhile, next Thursday’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown will be run in the memory of jockey Joe Mercer, who died earlier this week aged 86. Mercer rode the legendary colt in all his 18 races.