Coolmore release new City Of Troy footage after Derby fav suffers worrying market drift

AIDAN O’BRIEN is “very happy” with Derby favourite City Of Troy – despite a massive drift in the betting which could see him lose his place at the head of the market.

The three-year-old was a general 7-4 favourite for the Epsom Classic at the start of the week, but at one point on Tuesday his price eased right out to 4-1 on the Betfair Exchange.

PACity Of Troy has been uneasy in the Derby betting[/caption]

And the bookies have reported a wave of strong support for City Of Troy’s stablemate Los Angeles, who is now challenging for Derby favouritism.

However, Coolmore released footage of the colt on the gallops at Ballydoyle, showing him ease clear of another horse in a piece of work.

And a spokesperson told Sunracing: “City Of Troy is fine, he did a lovely piece of work this morning and Aidan is very happy with him.”

However, there has been consistent support from punters for other horses in the Derby line-up.

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Some 20 horses are still in contention for the big one at Epsom, and Los Angeles and Ancient Wisdom are two of the best-backed against the current favourite.

Coral’s David Stevens said: “City Of Troy was as short as 7-4 for the Derby last week.

“But in recent days Ancient Wisdom, who was 11-1, and Los Angeles, 6-1 at the weekend, have been the pair attracting the most support.

“We are now at the point where either could now end up replacing City Of Troy as big race favourite come Saturday.”

There has never been any question before now that top jock Ryan Moore would ride City Of Troy at Epsom on Saturday.

But, after the drift and subsequent support for Los Angeles, Paddy Power even opened up a ‘Who will Moore ride?’ market.

City Of Troy is a very short 1-10 shot, with Los Angeles 5-1.

There is no doubt, though, that Saturday is D-Day for City Of Troy.

He was billed as the best two-year-old since Frankel ahead of his return in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month.

But he was beaten at halfway behind Notable Speech, finished in ninth place having been sent off the 4-6 favourite.

Top trainer O’Brien, who has won the Derby nine times during his glittering career, has since admitted he treated the colt ‘like too much of a God’ in the run-up as he crashed out at Newmarket.

Confidence has been high since Newmarket, and O’Brien doubled down on his praise for the horse, saying he is the ‘most talented horse we have ever taken to the Derby’ – which makes the massive drift even more surprising.