Bookies happy to lay Aidan O'Brien favourite as horse smashed in betting at York
Aidan O'Brien reports that that the Group 2 is being used as 'a race on the way to another race' for the three-year-old, with the St Leger at Doncaster and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp possible targets later in the season.
He told Oli Bell on Racing TV: "He came out of it [the Irish Derby] lovely. He's in great shape. He could have went to the King George, but we waited to go the Voltigeur.
"The thinking behind the Voltigeur is after the Voltigeur he can go anyway. He can go obviously go to the Leger, he can go to the Arc. He's a very unassuming straightforward horse. Everything has went really well since as well. He's only been ticking over so it will be interesting.
"It's to get another run into him. Obviously he's been trained for a race on the way to another race so he's had a very nice easy time since [the Irish Derby]. He's enjoying everything he's doing and he's not asked to do a whole lot but everybody seems happy so far with him."
William Hill say money has been pouring in for the Jim Goldie-trained Jordan Electrics in the first race, with Paul Mulrennan taking the ride. His odds have been cut into 15/2 from 14/1. The firm also report significant support for Align The Stars in the Stayers Handicap at 4.10. The four-year-old is trained by Charlie Johnston and will be ridden by Joe Fanning.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: 'The highly anticipated York Ebor Festival has finally arrived, and punters are champing at the bit for the action to get started. Jordan Electrics has attracted significant support in the opening race (1.50pm), being smashed into 15/2 from 14/1 in what looks a super competitive start to the meeting.
'In the Voltigeur (3.00pm), we are happy to lay Lambourn as he may be vulnerable off the back of a break. He's currently 10/11 and we think Carmers could give him plenty to think about. Elsewhere on the card, Align The Stars has been a popular pick in the Stayers Handicap (4.10pm), having halved in price to 8/1 from 16/1. Ending the day, Utmost Respect has also been slashed into 10/3 from an opening price of 7/1 in the Nursery Handicap (5:20pm) which looks like another wide-open race with a big field.'
York Ebor Festival 2025 – Day One Market Movers
1:50pm - Jordan Electrics – 15/2 from 14/1
4:10pm – Align The Stars – 8/1 from 16/1
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Irish Examiner
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Aidan O'Brien still positive despite Lambourn's Voltigeur defeat
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