Epsom Derby Betting / Joe Dyer / 29 May 2008 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

But Casual Conquest gets the green light and heads the market at [4.4]

Dual English & Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator is trading at [22.0] on Betfair for the Epsom Derby as his trainer Aidan O'Brien poured cold water on the colt's prospects of lining up on June 7th.

Being by Kingmambo, the star miler was by no means certain to see out the Derby trip but following more than two inches of rainfall at Epsom since Sunday morning. And with seemingly little prospect of good ground or better by Derby day - it now looks highly likely that he will sidestep the race.

Henrythenavigator shot to the forefront of the Derby market following his scintillating success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last weekend and had settled at [6.] on Betfair following that win. His likely non-participation is yet another blow to ante-post Derby backers, following New Approach's re-routing to the Curragh and Twice Over's Dante flop. The short-priced layers, though, continue to smile.

Better news emerged for supporters of Dermot Weld's exciting colt Casual Conquest though. Following a workout yesterday evening after racing at Leopardstown, the impressive Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner is now likely to be supplemented for the Epsom Derby at a cost of £75,000.

Godolphin's decision to allow their French 2,000 Guineas runner-up Rio De La Plata to take his chance has seen his odds contract sharply too. He now trades at [22.0] on Betfair, having been matched at a market high of [200.0].

Betfair's Tony Calvin commented: "It has been a busy day on our ante-post Derby market with mixed news for backers and layers alike. But Henrythenavigator's likely non-participation is a further blow for the race, and especially for those who steamed in following his Guineas win at the Curragh.

"Sir Michael Stoute has an increasingly strong hand, with his three intended runners trading between [8.0] and [11.0]."

Tags: Casual Conquest, Epsom Betting, Epsom Derby, Henrythenavigator, New Approach, Rio De La Plata, Twice Over