It's been a crazy six months for trainer David Lanigan and the madness might well continue as just after 3:15pm today Main Sequence could well be a lively outsider for next month's Epsom Derby.

The Irishman has made a big impression in the training ranks, firstly out of his base in Newmarket, but now in Lambourn, after receiving an offer too good to refuse from owner and breeder Mr Bjorn Nielsen, just before Christmas.

I travelled down to his new state of the art base last week and it would mean "everything" if he could get Main Sequence home in front today in the Betfred Derby Trial.

The race was due to be run on the turf track but with all the rain around, again, this week the track is waterlogged in places and has now been transferred to the all-weather surface, and that doesn't seem to bother Lanigan.

The three-year-old is unbeaten in his three career runs, twice last year and once this term when putting up a very pleasing performance at Newmarket.

Main Sequence, best priced 50-1 for the Investec Derby at Epsom next month, now tests his Classic credentials in this recognised trial.

"He's in good order and we're looking forward to running him," said Lanigan. "I would have preferred to have gone to Chester for the Dee Stakes, but we didn't want to run him on really heavy ground.

"I thought his last race at Newmarket was a decent contest and we started him off in a handicap because I thought the handicapper had given him a quite favourable mark over the winter, so it was a nice place to start.

"On his homework, he does everything right and we didn't learn a lot at Newmarket last time as they went steady early on.

"He's a strong horse and I don't think running on the all-weather will be an excuse."

The fillies strut their stuff in the Betfred "The Bonus King" Oaks Trial Stakes and Vow, so impressive at Newbury last time, looks the one to beat.

The William Haggas-trained filly is a daughter of Derby hero Motivator and a half-sister to smart stablemates Harris Tweed and Beaten Up, having been bred by Haggas' father, Brian.

She could hardly have been more impressive on her racecourse debut and aims to keep her Epsom Oaks dream alive by landing this recognised trial.

Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: "She's in good form and we hope she'll handle the surface all right.

"We wanted to run her on turf, coming down the hill and round the bend as it would be more Epsom-like.

"We haven't quite got what we wanted but, looking at the ground everywhere else, William didn't want to run her on very bad ground and this is our only option.

"It was a very impressive performance at Newbury and we've always liked her a lot. We're hopeful she'll be very competitive.

"She's been a green filly as well so we hope she'll have learnt a lot from her first race.

"William knows the pedigree well and the filly herself looks marvellous. I think she'll stay the mile and a half well."

Closer to home, there is a six-race card at Thirsk this evening and I quietly fancy one that could be a nice price.

The horse in question is Eltheeb who runs in the one mile four furlong handicap at 7.15pm. He is talented but, as his record would prove, is injury prone. Having his first start for bang inform David O'Meara, Eltheeb could be well handicapped on his first start since last September and has gone well fresh in the past.