Bookmakers cut the son of Galileo into as short as 4/1 for the Classic
Aidan O'Brien landed his sixth Dee Stakes as Ryan Moore steered Cliffs Of Moher to success on the Roodee. The son of Galileo was cut from 8/1 into as short as 4/1 with one firm for the Investec Derby in June following his workmanlike performance.
Sent off the 4/5 favourite, the 3yo had to be stoked up heading into the final bend to launch his challenge to the front-running Max Zorin and at first, appeared unable to find the required response. However, once straightened up inside the final few furlongs, the Ballydoyle colt managed to hit top gear and hit the front to be going away at the finish.
Cliffs Of Moher comes through a worrying period mid-race to land the odds and win the Dee Stakes at Chester pic.twitter.com/z0JbxEsMKi
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 12, 2017
Subject of a number of large bets on Friday morning, the O'Brien runner appeared to relish the step up in trip and was never better than at the finishing post, suggesting the extra two furlongs at Epsom should prove no problem.
Paul Smith representing owners Coolmore said after the race: "We're very happy with him. Aidan said he was just ready to start today and he'd really come on a lot for the run and Ryan thought that too. He was very, very happy with him. I think he'll improve a lot (for today's run), he would have learnt a hell of a lot around here and Ryan said he was just learning his trade as he was going round. He was delighted with him."
"He raced like a horse who was having his first run for a while," says Ryan Moore of Dee Stakes winner Cliffs Of Moher #BoodlesMayFest pic.twitter.com/n4Y1XYKIVh
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) May 12, 2017
O'Brien has won three of the last five runnings of The Derby and currently has the ante-post favourite for this year's race in the shape of 2000 Guineas winner Churchill. The Irish champion trainer landed the Chester Vase on Thursday with another Derby hopeful Venice Beach (20/1) and is also responsible for Yucatan (16/1) and Douglas Macarthur (20/1) in the ante-post betting.
