Westover Derby challenge one to look forward to for Rob Hornby

Despite running green, the son of Frankel was still able to withstand the late challenge of the David Simcock-trained Cash. Trainer Ralph Beckett has indicated that the powerful three-year-old will now go direct to Epsom for the blue riband event.

A best-priced 25/1 chance for premier Classic, Westover has been partnered by Hornby in three out of his four starts so far and the pilot is still confident there is more to come from him.

"He's very exciting, said Hornby. "We always thought a lot of him as a two-year-old and he did very well to win first time out being such a big horse.

"We always thought he'd improve a great deal and be a better three-year-old and to go and do that on his first run of the year, when we hadn't really asked to many questions at home, was really good.

"There was always going to be a great deal of improvement from the run and to go and be able to win and put in a performance like that was really taking."

Hornby's first Group 1 win, on board Scope, was provided by Beckett. The trio combined to land the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp in October and Westover could continue a blossoming partnership between the trainer and jockey at Epsom, with the pair going within a neck of victory in the 1,000 Guineas through Prosperous Voyage.

"For myself it is really exciting and it's great for the whole yard, there's a real buzz about the place. The horses are running really well and hopefully it bodes well for an exciting season," continued Hornby.

"The link up with Ralph has been really fruitful for the past three years now and I've always been attached with Andrew Balding since my apprenticeship.

"Obviously there has become a few more opportunities there this year with Oisin's (Murphy) absence, so it will be nice to grab as many of those opportunities while I can and keep pushing forwards."