Aidan O'Brien sparks dramatic Derby gamble with Ryan Moore comments ahead of £1.5million Epsom blockbuster
AIDAN O'BRIEN has sparked a massive Derby gamble with his comments about Ryan Moore before the £1.5million Epsom blockbuster.
O'Brien's longtime market leader The Lion In Winter drifted markedly after his poor Dante showing earlier this month before being backed in again.
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Whichever of the Aidan O'Brien horses Ryan Moore picks for the Derby will likely go off favourite - and bookies think they know who it will be
Credit: PA
While the move for that horse saw O'Brien's hugely exciting two-time Group 3 winner Delacroix move the other way.
However, Delacroix's striking manner of victory in two runs this season and his work at home has led O'Brien to speculate who Moore could choose.
Moore, as the Ballydoyle No1 jockey, always has the pick of the best O'Brien horses.
The buzz ahead of this year's race will be all about who he opts for ahead of the world's most prestigious Flat race on June 7.
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Bookies Betfair make him 4-6 to choose Delacroix, 11-10 The Lion In Winter and 25-1 Lambourn, all three of O'Brien's intended runners.
The Ballydoyle boss said: "Ryan will make his mind up as late as he can.
"Obviously, I'd imagine it's between Delacroix and The Lion In Winter.
"At the moment, I would say it would be hard for him not to ride Delacroix, but that's not to say he won't.
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"He'll have to see how The Lion In Winter is, where they are both drawn and stuff like that."
That sparked another switch at the top of the market, that also includes Ralph Beckett's brilliant Dante winner Pride Of Arras and Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court.
Coral's David Stevens said: "The Lion In Winter had been backed into clear favouritism for the Derby despite his defeat in the Dante, but Aidan O'Brien's comments that he thought it would be hard for Ryan Moore not to ride Delacroix - while not a definitive jockey booking - has seen the Leopardstown Trial winner take over again at the head of the betting."
While Ladbrokes' Alex Apati commented: "All eyes will be on Ryan Moore's next move ahead of the Epsom Derby, but the current odds suggest he'll have the pick of the two favourites in Delacroix and The Lion In Winter."
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Derby odds via Coral
5-2 Delacroix
7-2 The Lion In Winter
4-1 Pride Of Arras, Ruling Court
10-1 Damysus
16-1 Lambourn
20-1 Stanhope Gardens
25-1 Wimbledon Hawkeye
33-1 Puppet Master, Stay True
40-1 Bar
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Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien Derby update as trainer speaks on his Epsom runners
Ryan Moore is leaning towards riding Delacroix over his stablemate The Lion In Winter in Saturday's Betfred Derby, with a final decision on his Epsom mount to be made before Wednesday lunchtime. The Lion In Winter led the ante-post lists for the premier Classic during the winter months, but an interrupted spring campaign and a sixth-place finish in his Dante Stakes comeback have dented his reputation, despite the Sea The Stars colt remaining prominent in the betting. However, Delacroix – who has impressed by winning both of his starts at Leopardstown this season – became the Derby favourite after trainer Aidan O'Brien said last week "I would imagine Ryan will find it hard not to ride him". During a media Zoom call hosted by the Jockey Club on Tuesday, O'Brien was again asked if he expected Moore to choose the son of Dubawi, and said: "I think so, it's very hard to know and obviously he doesn't have to makeup his mind until 1pm tomorrow. "Ryan will always ride the horse he thinks he has the best chance, that's always been his way regardless and that's the way it has to be. "Ryan rides the horse we think is going to win, sometimes we're right and sometimes we're wrong, but he looks at their ability, where they are the suitability of the horse for the race and tries to get on the one he thinks is going to win. "Obviously no one gets that right all the time, so we'll just have to see how it goes." O'Brien has made it clear that he won't be nudging Moore towards any particular choice, stating: "No, I think you have to be very clear thinking all the time, you have to make calculated decisions all the time and you can't let your heart rule your head. That's what we always try to do really." O'Brien is gearing up for a three-horse push in his quest for an 11th Derby triumph with Delacroix and The Lion In Winter poised to join Chester Vase victor Lambourn. Wayne Lordan and Colin Keane are set to mount the other two horses, with Moore yet to announce his ride. O'Brien anticipates a spirited race from Delacroix this weekend and suggests aggressive racing tactics might continue, adding: "I'd imagine so, that will be Ryan's decision if he rides him. He's a straightforward horse and uncomplicated we think, so I would imagine if he does ride him he'll probably ride him forward. He'll decide that himself when the gates open. "His sister by Galileo (Grateful) got a mile and six (furlongs) well and as everybody knows he's by Dubawi. You never know until you do it, but we always thought there was a good chance that he would get the mile and a half." With regards to The Lion In Winter, despite possibly being the secondary choice from Ballydoyle, O'Brien is optimistic of a significant improvement following the horse's last outing at the Dante stakes. The trainer expressed optimism about the horse's progress since York, saying: "We think he's made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would. He was only just ready to start that day and you're probably better off in a trial knowing that you're going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you're fit and everything goes right. "He was a bit fresh and a bit behind fitness-wise but everything has gone well since, we got a run into him, it looked like he was going to get a mile and a quarter well, he got a little bit of interference in the straight and Ryan looked after him. If he hadn't got that he might have been third and if he hadn't have run a little bit keen early he might have been closer. "This is only going to be his second run and you'd imagine whatever he does he's going to come forward again." The trainer will also be triple handed in Friday's Betfred Oaks, with Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Giselle and Musidora Stakes victor Whirl appearing three of the biggest threats to Charlie Appleby's 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower. "I'd imagine Ryan will probably ride Minnie Hauk, but obviously that could change if he changes his mind tomorrow," O'Brien revealed. "We liked her last year, she had two runs and won the second time. She's a lovely, straightforward filly and we think she's come forward loads from Chester." Speaking on the significance of the two Epsom Classics, the trainer stated: "They're obviously vital, it's where the whole thoroughbred breed is gauged. "The Derby and the Oaks are the most important races for colts and fillies of the year and for the three-year-old generation."
Irish Examiner
10 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
O'Brien still expects Delacroix to be Moore's Derby mount
Ryan Moore appears increasingly likely to side with Delacroix over stablemate The Lion In Winter in Saturday's Betfred Derby, with a final decision on his Epsom mount to be made before Wednesday lunchtime. The Lion In Winter spent the winter months at the head of ante-post lists for the premier Classic, and while an interrupted spring campaign and a sixth-place finish on his Dante Stakes comeback dented his reputation, the Sea The Stars colt has remained prominent in the betting. However, Delacroix — who has impressed in winning each of his two starts at Leopardstown so far this season — hardened as Derby favourite after trainer Aidan O'Brien said last week "I would imagine Ryan will find it hard not to ride him". On a media Zoom call hosted by the Jockey Club on Tuesday, O'Brien was again asked if he expected Moore to side with the son of Dubawi, and said: "I think so, it's very hard to know and obviously he doesn't have to make up his mind until 1pm tomorrow. "Ryan will always ride the horse he thinks he has the best chance, that's always been his way regardless and that's the way it has to be. "Ryan rides the horse we think is going to win, sometimes we're right and sometimes we're wrong, but he looks at their ability and tries to get on the one he thinks is going to win. "Obviously no one gets that right all the time, so we'll just have to see how it goes." On whether he would try to sway Moore in one direction or another, he added: "No, I think you have to be very clear thinking all the time, you have to make calculated decisions all the time and you can't let your heart rule your head. That's what we always try to do really." O'Brien plans to fire a three-pronged assault in his bid for an 11th Derby success, with Delacroix and The Lion In Winter set to be joined by Chester Vase winner Lambourn. Wayne Lordan and Colin Keane will ride the two horses passed over by Moore. Delacroix has been ridden positively in his last couple of races and O'Brien expects similar tactics to be employed this weekend, saying: "I'd imagine so, that will be Ryan's decision if he rides him. He's a straightforward horse and uncomplicated we think, so I would imagine if he does ride him he'll probably ride him forward. He'll decide that himself when the gates open. "His sister by Galileo (Grateful) got a mile and six (furlongs) well and as everybody knows he's by Dubawi. You never know until you do it, but we always thought there was a good chance that he would get the mile and a half." While The Lion In Winter appears likely to line up as the Ballydoyle second string, O'Brien believes he will take a big step forward from his Dante performance. He added: "We think he's made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would. He was only just ready to start that day and you're probably better off in a trial knowing that you're going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you're fit and everything goes right. "He was a bit fresh and a bit behind fitness-wise but everything has gone well since, we got a run into him, it looked like he was going to get a mile and a quarter well, he got a little bit of interference in the straight and Ryan looked after him. If he hadn't got that he might have been third and if he hadn't have run a little bit keen early he might have been closer. "This is only going to be his second run and you'd imagine whatever he does he's going to come forward again." The trainer will also be triple handed in Friday's Betfred Oaks, with Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Giselle, and Musidora Stakes victor Whirl appearing three of the biggest threats to Charlie Appleby's 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower. "I'd imagine Ryan will probably ride Minnie Hauk, but obviously that could change if he changes his mind tomorrow," O'Brien revealed. "We liked her last year, she had two runs and won the second time. She's a lovely, straightforward filly and we think she's come forward loads from Chester." On the importance of the two Epsom Classics, the trainer said: "They're obviously vital, it's where the whole thoroughbred breed is gauged. "The Derby and the Oaks are the most important races for colts and fillies of the year and for the three-year-old generation."
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘That's Ryan Moore's ride' – Punters convinced after Epsom Oaks price collapse
PUNTERS are convinced they know who Ryan Moore will ride in the Epsom Oaks - after an intriguing price crash came seemingly out of nowhere. Aidan O'Brien has three in the Friday Classic ahead of Thursday's declarations. 1 Ryan Moore riding Minnie Hauk to win The Boodles Chester Vase Stakes last month - punters think the top jock will ride her in the Oaks after a price collapse Credit: Getty But just who Moore would choose out of Giselle, Whirl and Minnie Hauk looked anyone's guess. Bookies thought they had some inkling as they made Minnie Hauk, who was 8-1 just 48 hours ago, the outsider of the Ballydoyle trio. But the Cheshire Oaks winner's price has been smashed into as short as 7-2 following a tidal wave of support. Punters think her odds crashing - and Giselle and Whirl's going the opposite way - are a sign Moore has chosen who he will partner, with one proclaiming: "That's Ryan Moore's ride." Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "The front two in the Oaks market have both been strong today, but particularly Cheshire Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk. "That support would indicate that punters are pretty sure that of Aidan O'Brien's three possible protagonists, Ryan Moore has chosen to partner this very talented Frankel filly." Whoever Moore rides will have to go some to beat Charlie Appleby's red-hot Oaks favourite Desert Flower, though. The 1000 Guineas winner has been obliterated into just 6-5 with some firms. Most read in Horse Racing Legendary jockey Kieran Fallon, who rides out at trainer Charlie Appleby's Moulton Paddocks yard, And punters think so too, with Desert Flower looking like she could be the shortest-price winner since O'Brien's 11-10 Love in 2020. Epsom Oaks odds via Paddy Power 5-4 Desert Flower 7-2 Minnie Hauk 7-1 Giselle, Whirl 10-1 Elwateen, Revoir 20-1 Quilin Queen, Wemighttakedlongway 50-1 Go Go Boots FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
