Aidan O'Brien has selected his team for the Betfred Derby at Epsom, but has left out the colt favoured by many punters. The Ballydoyle trainer, who holds a record 11 wins in the world-famous Classic, will see the race worth £2 million when it takes place on the Downs on June 6. After the latest scratching stage, O'Brien had ten horses engaged in the mile-and-a-half showpiece.
Decision Between French and English Derbies
With the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club, scheduled for Chantilly this Sunday, O'Brien had to decide which colts would head to France and which to England. The O'Brien-trained Benvenuto Cellini has been the ante-post favourite since winning the Chester Vase earlier this month. However, earlier this week, that position came under threat from talented stablemate Constitution River after bookmakers reported a significant market move for the Dee Stakes winner, whom many pundits consider Ballydoyle's strongest challenger.
Despite the betting activity, O'Brien clarified that France was the most likely destination for Constitution River, and on Thursday he confirmed that remains the plan.
Constitution River Headed to France
"We've decided that Constitution River will go to France," O'Brien told the Racing Post. "We went to Chester with him looking to find out if he stayed a mile and a quarter, and he saw it out very well there. This is obviously a big step up, but everything has gone very well in the build-up to the race, and everybody is very happy with him. We've always thought he was a colt who had enough pace for a mile but would hopefully stay a mile and a quarter, and he looks to be a very classy horse."
O'Brien added that Hawk Mountain and Montreal would join Constitution River in the French Derby line-up. The other colts entered for Epsom are Pierre Bonnard, Action, Causeway, Christmas Day, Endorsement, Amadeus Mozart, and Proposition.
Benvenuto Cellini Shortens for Epsom
As a result of Constitution River's absence, Benvenuto Cellini has been cut in the betting for the Epsom Derby and is now the 9-4 favourite, down from 11-4 with Coral. Coral's Dave Stevens said: "Having briefly been favourite for the Betfred Derby last weekend, Constitution River is now a warm favourite for the French version, and alongside that support, his stablemate Benvenuto Cellini has likewise shortened for the Epsom Classic."
