A ‘MAJOR Epsom Derby gamble’ is building on a superstar Aidan O’Brien colt the legendary trainer insists has ‘a lot of class’.
The Lion In Winter saw his price for the world’s most famous Flat race skyrocket after his disappointing Dante run.
PAAuguste Rodin and City Of Troy flopped before winning the Derby – and punters are banking on The Lion In Winter following that trend as well[/caption]
Keen early on, he ran out of gas under Ryan Moore as Ralph Beckett’s brilliant Pride Of Arras stormed to victory at 18-1.
Desert Crown did the Dante-Derby double in 2022 but The Foxes and Economics have failed more recently.
Punters are banking on that trend continuing as they pile into the Coolmore-owned colt for the big one on Saturday, June 7.
Eased to 6-1 after his York no-show, The Lion In Winter is now 5-2 with race sponsors Betfred.
Irish bookies Boylesports reported a surge of cash for the son of Sea The Stars and make him 5-2 fav too, while others have cut him to 9-4.
It’s worth nothing that both O’Brien’s Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy flopped before winning the Derby.
The strong support came as scratchings for the Derby were made on Tuesday morning – and as the price of Delacroix went out.
O’Brien’s other star colt had been punted into 5-2 but, opposite to The Lion In Winter, has seen his odds go out to 5-1.
He is now 10-3 favourite for the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, on June 1.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “It may have been a disappointing performance for some in the Dante, but we have seen a major gamble on The Lion In Winter turning it around at Epsom.
“Plenty of punters are clearly expecting him to roar back in the Derby.”
While Betfred’s Robert Ford said: “Despite drifting out to 5-1 joint-third favourite after their defeat in the Dante Stakes, Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter has regained the position of outright favourite going into the Betfred Derby.
“Yesterday, the son of Sea The Stars returned to the top of the market alongside Delacroix at 7-2 after receiving significant backing, but this morning he moved ahead of his stablemate to become the 5-2 outright favourite.
“Delacroix has drifted out to 4-1 second-joint favourite alongside Dante winner Pride of Arras and Ruling Court.
“Ruling Court is currently priced at 16-1 to complete the prestigious Triple Crown.”
Betfred Derby odds via Betfred
5-2 The Lion In Winter
4-1 Ruling Court, Delacroix, Pride Of Arras
10-1 Damysus
16-1 Lambourn
25-1 Stanhope Gardens, Wimbledon Hawkeye, Purview
33-1 Puppet Master, Sea Scout
40-1 bar
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