With the Derby now less than a fortnight away, we take a look at the betting activity since last week's Dante
The trials have been run. Bubbles have been burst and reputations enhanced and over the last few weeks we’ve seen multiple horses flip-flop at the top of the ante-post market. But who are you, the punter, backing to land the second Classic of the season on June 3rd?
Best Solution
The Saeed bin Suroor runner was an easy winner of this year’s Lingfield Derby Trial under Pat Cosgrave after his return from a disappointing winter in Meydan where he failed to adapt to the dirt track on both his starts. However, his return to form at Lingfield has obviously convinced punters those efforts can be forgiven with the son of Kodiac the most popular pick of Oddschecker users. Just under 25% of all bets have been on the 12/1 shot, accounting for 23% of money staked on the market.
Dubai Thunder
Another Godolphin colt in the care of bin Suroor, the son of Dubawi was a 10l winner of a Newbury maiden on May 19th, sparking a frenzy of bets with bookmakers pricing him up at around the 20/1 mark. His jockey Adam Kirby said after that impressive debut: "He's very nice. He was very babyish beforehand and a bit randy, but he's got a serious engine.” His Newbury saunter has led to the 3yo attracting 14% of total bets on the race and just under 10% of all stakes
Permian
The shock Dante winner may not be as ‘glamourous’ as others at the top of the Derby betting, but it’s hard to argue with the form he has shown on his last three racecourse appearances. A head second to ante-post favourite Cracksman in the Epsom Derby trial, the Mark Johnston colt followed that effort with a commanding victory in a Listed Newmarket contest before taking the Group 2 Dante ahead of more fancied runners at York last week. Still available at 14/1, 11% of all bets have been for the son of Teofilo accounting for 9% of all stakes.
Eminent
The son of Frankel was only beaten 3 ½ lengths when 6th of 10 in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the start of the month and is expected to appreciate the step up to the mile and a half Derby trip. Martyn Meade’s 3yo will be bidding to give his super sire his second Classic winner of the season after Soul Stirring’s success in the Japanese Oaks. Best-priced 10/1, 8% of bets and 9% of stakes have been for the 3yo.
Crystal Ocean
Sir Michael Stoute’s 3yo was the subject of a mysterious Derby ‘gamble’ in the build up to the Dante last week and although he could only manage third in that race, the lightly-raced colt still put in a promising performance, staying on strongly at the finish. He certainly caught the eye of Oddschecker punters with 8% of bets since that race for the 3yo, totalling 9% of stakes.
And the rest
Market leaders Cracksman (5/1) and Cliffs of Moher (9/2) have been friendless in the ante-post markets in the last few days with both attracting under 4% of bets since the Dante. However, if you cast the net back further to the start of April, the two are easily the best-backed through Oddschecker, hinting that punters are satisfied with the odds they got back then.
