Walter Swinburn rode Assessor in his first three runs as a three-year-old. On his seasonal debut he contested the Thresher Classic Trial over ten furlongs at Sandown in which he finished third behind Pollen Count and Aljadeer. The Maxims Club Derby Trial Stakes over one and a half miles at Lingfield Park on 9 May saw the colt start the 9/4 favourite against six opponents. After being pushed along in the early stages he went to the front three furlongs out and drew well clear to win "comfortably" by seven lengths from Tapis Rouge, with two and a half lengths back to Bonny Scot in third place. Assessor's win at Lingfield established him as a contender for the 1992 Epsom Derby and on 2 June he started the 9/1 joint third favourite in an eighteen-runner field for the 213th running of the race. He was never in contention and ran poorly, coming home thirteenth in a race which saw Dr Devious win from St Jovite.
