Politics
Epsom Derby: Massive gamble set to sparkle or flop at York this week with market volatile after Luxembourg ruled out
IT’S crunch time for the massive Epsom Derby gamble Desert Crown.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt has been the subject of a huge plunge in the betting for the Classic on June 4.
Getty Images – GettySir Michael Stoute’s Desert Crown has been backed into 11-2 from 33-1 for the Derby[/caption]
The unbeaten three-year-old was a 33-1 shot just over a week ago, but he is now as short as 11-2 with the bookies.
And his Derby credentials will be put to the test on Thursday when he runs in the Dante Stakes at York.
That race is considered one of the most important Derby trials, with previous winners like Golden Horn, Authorized and Motivator following up at Epsom in recent years.
And with the long-time Derby favourite Luxembourg ruled out of the race through injury, the race has a wide-open look to it.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10 get £30 in free sports bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair – Get A £20 Free Bet when you place £50 worth of bets. Repeat up to 5 times for £100 Free Bets CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £10 on Horse Racing Get £45 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet – Bet £5 Get £20 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. Begambleaware.org
Betfair – New customers place £50 worth of bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100. Min odds 1.2 (1/5). Multiple bets included. Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.Org
Paddy Power: Place a £10 Sportsbook bet on any Horse Racing market between April 22nd & May 3rd, at min. odds 1/5 (1.20) — get £45 in free bets on bet settlement, valid 30 days. Only deposits via Cards will qualify (Apple Pay deposits excluded). T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: New customers only. First single and E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 2 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. Begambleaware.org
The markets have been volatile since news of Luxembourg’s setback was made public.
A good – or bad – performance on the track can see a huge shake-up in the betting.
That was the case on Sunday, with Stone Age cut into 5-2 favourtism from 12-1 after he won the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown.
But Desert Crown, who won his only start at Nottingham in November, has yet to race this season and could well move to the head of the Derby betting if he bags the Dante at York.
If he flops, the punters who have taken part in the huge gamble will be pulling their hair out.
Most read in Horse Racing
Bruce Raymond, racing manager for Desert Crown’s owner Saeed Suhail, told the Racing Post: “The plan is to run him on Thursday. He works very well.
“Sir Michael is bringing him along very gradually. A month ago you certainly wouldn’t think about any Derby, but he’s starting to hit the right note now.
“Our horse will stay very well and whatever he does in the Dante he’ll improve a lot for it.
“I wouldn’t worry about him getting beaten in the Dante because it’s his first run of the season and Sir Michael’s are not yet firing on all cylinders.
“He will be a decent horse – whether he comes right for the Derby I don’t know – but he’ll be a good horse later.”
Coral’s David Stevens added: “Desert Crown has been the subject of a positive bulletin from connections and he will get his own chance to test his credentials in this week’s Dante.
“A clear-cut victory at York would surely see him take outright favouritism for the Epsom Classic.”
Desert Crown will face another Derby dark horse in the Dante in the shape of Magisterial, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, plus Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale.
The three-day Dante Festival kicks off on Wednesday, when Emily Upjohn will attempt to book her ticket to the Oaks in the Musidora Stakes.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chases their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
