Epsom Derby still on for David Menusieur's "really nice" Lionel

David Menuisier is excited for "really nice horse Lionel after a staying on third to Natural World at Newbury on Saturday.

West Sussex handler Menuisier felt his three-year-old would have won the race if it wasn't for bad luck in running and believes he is right to be entered into the Epsom Derby on June 4

"He is definitely one of the best I have trained. He is a really nice horse," said Menuisier.

"The ground was really nice at Newbury, so when it is like that, usually they take things quite well. I am delighted with him.

"It was a tough contest and I don't want to be too cheeky, but I felt we were beaten by circumstances, rather than the opposition.

"To be perfectly honest, in our mind we won the race and that is why there is a chance that perhaps we might not run in maidens - we might just go up to the next level."

Connections are considering options for Lionel who has entries for the Dante on May 12 at York plus the English and Irish Derby.

"We will give him a few days. We are flat out until Wednesday and then we can start taking the pressure down a bit and look at the second wave,".

"The horses have to do the talking. It is not for us to put words into their mouth.

"Next time he will have a test, but I feel those better races will have more pace and this horse wants pace, because he has such a long stride and he can quicken drastically off a strong pace. Then, is he good enough or not? It is up to him to show us. I can only speculate that he is a nice horse.

"He has all the right entries, he has the right pedigree. I have doubts about the trainer, but that is the only doubt I have!

"I don't like to talk horses up. There are one or two things we can improve and he will improve with experience.

"It is very early days for him but down the line, he will be a really good four-year-old. Whatever he does, he is bred to just get better and better and better."