Yeats followed a path used by two of his illustrious Ballydoyle stablemates as he ground out success in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown yesterday.

The winning margin of one-and-a-half lengths over Relaxed Gesture was greater than that managed by either Galileo or High Chaparral - both of whom went on to Epsom Derby glory. However, it was still not the performance of a horse who was 3-1 favourite for the senior colt's classic even before this win, on the strength of just two successes.

Despite the fact that his performance lacked some of the sparkle ante-post supporters would have wanted, Yeats's trainer Aidan O'Brien still expressed himself satisfied. ''He is a very uncomplicated horse. He kicked out at Relaxed Gesture after the race on the way back in and it's like he was only playing,'' O'Brien said. ''Horses like that, who you can just let jump and run, are few and far between.

''The plan was always to come here and get him ready for Epsom. He wanted to come away for the day and do a good bit of work and that's what he's done. He's a very good horse.

''It's hard to make comparisons between him, Galileo, and High Chaparral. All you can say is that he gallops, he stays, he's genuine, and he's tough, like they both were.

''I don't think Derby day is going to bother him, because it takes a lot to get him excited.''

Relaxed Gesture, making his seasonal appearance for Dermot Weld, delighted connections and may also bid to follow a route set by a stablemate - 1990 Belmont Stakes winner Go And Go. Having returned to the unsaddling area with a cut to his hind quarters, where he was struck by the winner, there were some initial fears for his well-being. However, Weld said: ''It is entirely superficial and nothing to worry about.

''He could still be supplemented for Epsom, but he is also in the Belmont and that is a race I have had in mind for him since last year.''

One horse who will not be in the Derby line-up is the 2000 Guineas third, Azamour, with his people claiming that the lightly-raced colt is likely to run next in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday week.

O'Brien and Spencer had high hopes of a double in the Amethyst Stakes, but Meath, the odds-on favourite, went down by half a length to the John Oxx-trained D'Anjou.

lAidan O'Brien was at Lingfield on Saturday to see Baraka give his hopes of success in the Oaks a boost. The filly, who had been a flop when favourite for her only race as a two-year-old, did not let the Ballydoyle side down this time, cruising to victory in the Oaks Trial in impressive style, writes Ian Paul.

She beat the well-fancied Bowstring by six lengths but it could have been a good deal more had Jamie Spencer ridden the horse out. As it was, Spencer remained quiet as, more than a furlong out, she ambled past the favourite who was being given the full treatment by Frankie Dettori.

The performance of Baraka, one of two fillies O'Brien has entered for the Oaks at Epsom next month - All Too Beautiful is the other - received a mixed reception from the bookies. Ladbrokes go 16-1, while Coral have cut her to 8-1. The former price looks worth taking even if the vibes before the race were that All Too Beautiful is the first choice. O'Brien said: I would be delighted to have either or both go to Epsom.''

He added that, after the disappointing debut last season, Baraka was put away and given time to mature. ''She wintered well and has been working well. It was always the plan to give her one run and then go to Epsom with her. Jamie was very sweet on her and wanted to bring her here to see if she stayed the trip.''

Because of the nature of the race, only five ran and three of them were beaten a long way out, it is still possible to question if she will stay the same trip, 12 furlongs, at Epsom but the odds are she will . . . and might well be the winner.

If Dettori lost out in that trial, he was a happy man later in the afternoon when Percussionist slaughtered the opposition in the Derby Trial and will now take his chance at Epsom.

Wearing the famous silks of the late Robert Sangster, Percussionist made short work of taking on and beating the 11-10 favourite, Hazyview, by 10 lengths after the two went right away from the only other two runners in the race, including the desperately disappointing O'Brien candidate, Five Dynasties, who finished third, 17 lengths behind.

The John Gosden-trained winner careered across the course in the closing stages after apparently taking fright at a TV camera on top a van being driven alongside the far rail. Had that not happened, the distance would have been much greater. In any case, Dettori said later: ''He won really well. He loves the ground and I couldn't fault his performance.''

He made the point that his own Derby mount, Snow Ridge, and another contender, American Post, may have more speed but that Percussionist is a real stayer.

York's May meeting dominates the schedule this week but Hamilton Park and Perth also provide some exciting entertainment for Scottish racegoers.

The Hamilton highlight on Friday evening is the (pounds) 35,000 Braveheart Stakes, a Class A Listed race over 12 furlongs sponsored by Bookmakers Saffie Joseph and Sons.

There is also a (pounds) 15,000 six-furlong handicap. In fact, the prize fund totals an impressive (pounds) 76,000 and should make for some quality racing.

Hamilton, and the evening jumps meeting at Perth on Wednesday, will be televised by Sky. Perth also has a meeting on Thursday afternoon.

lSpecular, an expensive import from Australia, got off the mark in Britain yesterday with victory under Tony McCoy in a beginners' chase at Market Rasen.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained eight-year-old was a top-class hurdler in his native country, but has failed to live up to expectations since being bought by the leading owner, JP McManus.

Sent off a very warm fav-ourite, everything looked to be going to plan three out as Specular moved up. However, the champion jockey had to shake Specular up after the last to catch Sharp Single and score by half a length.