The Lion In Winter back into Derby favouritism after Aidan O'Brien update
The Lion In Winter has regained favouritism for the 2025 Epsom Derby, despite a recent sixth-place finish in the Dante Stakes. Aidan O'Brien, the horse's trainer, expressed confidence in the runner's potential, noting that it performed as expected given the trial's challenges. Bookmakers have restored The Lion In Winter's odds to 7/2, placing it as a co-favourite alongside Delacroix and Ruling Court. O'Brien also indicated that multiple horses from his stable, including Delacroix, could contend at Epsom, making the race highly competitive.
- The Lion In Winter reclaims Epsom Derby favourite status
- Recent performance concerns addressed by trainer Aidan O'Brien
- Bookmakers now have three horses tied as co-favourites at 7/2
The Lion In Winter is once again favourite for the Epsom Derby, following Aidan O'Brien's interview on Monday.
Ballydoyle had dominated the Epsom Trials going into last week's Dante Meeting at York. The Lion In Winter was expected to continue O'Brien's hot streak by winning the most important of the Epsom Derby trials, but things didn't go to plan for Ryan Moore's mount.
The favourite was a little weak in the betting before the Dante, and raced keenly in the early stages. Moore asked The Lion In Winter to make up some ground with three furlongs to travel, but the favourite couldn't find much, trailing over the line sixth as Pride Of Arras stormed into Derby contention.
That defeat saw The Lion In Winter drift in the Epsom Derby betting, as stablemate Delacroix moved into solo favouritism. However, Aidan O'Brien talked Racing TV through his Derby plans on Monday, and what he said caused another shift in that Classic market.
"We always thought what happened at York could happen but he needed to run if he was going to go to the Derby.” O'Brien told the press on Monday.
"We were very happy with the run (from The Lion In Winter), he did exactly what we thought could happen. He jumped, he was fresh and things didn’t work."
"He got stopped halfway down the straight and he would have been probably a good third easily."
"If he hadn’t jumped into the bridle and wanted to tear off early, that would have been another couple of lengths."
As a result, bookmakers Ladbrokes cut The Lion In Winter back into 7/2 to win the 2025 Epsom Derby, meaning we could have three co-favourites on the day of this famous contest.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said, "It's all change at the head of the Derby betting, with The Lion In Winter being the subject of some serious interest to start the week."
"Delacroix's odds have take a hit and it means three names are now locked at the head of the betting."
O'Brien was by no means cool on the chances of Delacroix after he touched on The Lion In Winter's Dante run. In-fact, he seemed to intimate that Delacroix could be the pick of Ryan Moore, who'll have first choice of all the Ballydoyle runners.
O'Brien continued, "Obviously the lads will decide. We’ll discuss what we have and where we are."
"At the moment, it could be the horse from the Vase in Chester (Lambourn), it could be Delacroix and the horse from the Dante (The Lion In Winter)."
"Maybe all three will run and then obviously we have the two Lingfield horses (Puppet Master and runner-up Stay True). They just have to decide what they want to keep back for Ascot We’ll see how they are all working, talk to Ryan (Moore) and then decide."
"At the moment, Delacroix has gone that route all the time and that’s the route our other horses went before they went (to Epsom)."
"Everything has been good with him and obviously he doesn’t look a slow horse but his sister, by Galileo, got a mile-and-six so you would hope that the Derby distance would be within his range."
Pride Of Arras was cut into 5/1 for the Derby following his Dante Stakes success. 2000 Guineas winner, Ruling Court also sits atop the market with Ladbrokes, with Dante runner-up Damysus a little way off the four leading contenders.
2025 Epsom Derby Winner
7/2 The Lion In Winter, 7/2 Delacroix, 7/2 Ruling Court, 5/1 Pride Of Arras, 12/1 Damysus, 12/1 Twain, 16/1 Lambourn, 20/1 bar
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