The leading trainer in the Derby with ten wins, O’Brien has favourite Delacroix, The Lion In Winter and Lambourn going forward to Epsom’s premier Classic this year as his main contenders
Aidan O’Brien has shut down rumours that demoted ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter will miss the Derby at Epsom. The Acomb winner drifted to double-figure odds of 12-1 on Friday, having been 5-2 with William Hill at the start of the week.
Spokesman Lee Phelps described the horse as “totally friendless” in the betting on a day that left a question mark hanging over his participation. But O’Brien has since told ITV Racing that The Lion In Winter, beaten at odds on in the Dante when last seen, will run in the Classic.
“My exact words to Aidan were ‘Is The Lion In Winter doubtful now?’ said presenter Matt Chapman. “His response was to that ‘on-course Matt’ with a thumbs-up emoji.”
Some punters responded by taking the bigger prices on offer for the colt, who had 2,000 Guineas titleholder Ruling Court behind when scoring in Group Three company as a juvenile.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield suggested The Lion In Winter’s price might have lengthened after O’Brien – top handler in the showpiece event with ten victories – said stable jockey Ryan Moore would find it hard to overlook Delacroix.
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The strong stayer has finished with a clear advantage in two trials on home turf at Leopardstown.
Binfield said on Saturday morning: “We’re a little bit in the dark as to why The Lion In Winter drifted, although Aidan O’Brien’s comments on riding plans was a key factor.
“I think this morning the punters were thinking the price was just too big about a horse with a huge reputation.”
The Lion In Winter is 7-1 for a possible clash with three horses who finished in front of him in his prep race – winner Pride Of Arras (4-1), runner-up Damysus (10-1) and fifth-placed Nightwalker (25-1).
Aidan O’Brien said beforehand he expected his horse to “improve a ton” after a delayed start to the campaign which saw him miss the Guineas on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. But he added that stamina for 1m 4f could be a question mark: “He doesn’t work like a mile-and-a-half horse really, he works like a miler.
“I know most horses by Sea The Stars do stay, but obviously we’re going to have to wait and see first before we can be really sure of anything.”
