Tipperary trained Los Angeles tops punters’ shortlist for Epsom Derby as City Of Troy drifts
Derby betting is intense ahead of the big race
City Of Troy is clinging on as the 11/4 favourite with BoyleSports for Saturday’s Epsom Derby after a field of 16 was declared for the mile-and-a-half Classic.
The Justify colt, who was a champion two-year-old, tailed in a remote ninth in the 2,000 Guineas and despite Ballydoyle continuing to issue positive updates on his Derby prospects, punters are now looking at stablemate Los Angeles as the likely winner.
Having been as short as 5/1 to be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Nijinsky, City Of Troy has been a notable drifter in recent days for the Epsom feature having hit a low of 7/4 in the antepost betting.
Fellow Ballydoyle inmate Los Angeles has been a significant market mover and is now just 7/2 having been available at 6/1 earlier this week as Aidan O’Brien searches for a remarkable tenth win in the race.
British trained horses have claimed the opening four Classics of the year in Ireland and the UK and provide a formidable challenge for the Ballydoyle battalion to overhaul.
Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom, who was runner-up in the Dante, has seen his odds clipped into 4/1 from 6/1, while Lingfield Derby Trial winner Ambiente Friendly has also proven popular at 6/1.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “The Derby market has been a rollercoaster ride this season but City Of Troy is really falling out of favour. Los Angeles has seen plenty of support in recent days as have some of the home team, but it’s starting to look like punters are keen on anyone but the favourite.”