The Ballydoyle colt is currently second favourite in the ante-post market behind stablemate Churchill
There has been a surge of bets in the ante-post market for Cliffs Of Moher in the last 36 hours as Aidan O'Brien looks to further strengthen his grip on the Investec Derby betting. The son of Galileo was an impressive winner of a 7f maiden at Leopardstown when last seen in Ocotober last year, a performance that saw him move towards the top of the market for the Epsom Classic.
Today's Dee Stakes over 1m2f will give connections and punters a better idea of whether he will be suited by The Derby trip (1m4f) and an impressive win today will surely see him shorten further in the market.
Only Churchill is a shorter price for the Derby right now than Cliffs Of Moher - set to enhance his Classic claims at @ChesterRaces? pic.twitter.com/AbG8ifpyl0
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 12, 2017
This prospect has lead to a large number of bets through Oddschecker on the 3yo as shrewd punters look to snap up the 8/1 on offer in the hope those odds are cut later this afternoon. In total, 33% of all bets and 55% of all stakes on the ante-post market have been for Cliffs Of Moher in the last 36 hours.
The chief danger for the O'Brien runner in today's race appears to be Frankel colt Mirage Dancer, who himself is a 33/1 shot to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute a sixth Derby success on June 3rd. However, the Khalid Abdullah 3yo has only attracted 6% of all Derby bets in the last 36 hours, suggesting he will have to play second fiddle to the favourite today.
Thursday's Chester Vase winner and fellow O'Brien inmate Venice Beach has also proved popular in the ante-post markets, accounting for just over 21% over the same period following his impressive performance..
