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Weekly Horse Racing Betting Roundup

In a week which saw the death of Vincent O'Brien, arguably the greatest racehorse trainer of all time, and the trainer of six Epsom Derby winners, at the age of 92, it is perhaps fitting that the betting action this weekend revolves around the Epsom Derby Festival on Friday and Saturday. The three Group One contests to savour, all run over an extended 1½ miles, are, in chronological order, the Investec Coronation Cup, open to four-year-olds and upwards, the Investec Oaks, open to three-year-old fillies, and, of course, the Investec Derby, open to three-year-old colts and fillies.

Investec Derby

At the five-day declaration stage, the "Blue Riband", itself, featured seven entries trained in Britain and seven trained in Ireland, of which no fewer than six were trained by the Master of Ballydoyle, himself, Aiden O'Brien.

Irish entries dominate the betting, too, with O'Brien's unbeaten Montjeu colt, Fame And Glory (3/1 with Sporting Bet and William Hill) just shading favouritism from John Oxx's Sea The Stars (7/2 with Sporting Bet and Coral), winner of the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Neither has done much wrong, and both fully deserve their position at the head of the market. At much longer odds, however, Kite Wood (28/1 with William Hill plus a £100 Free Bet) was expected to need the run when only fifth (beaten just two lengths) behind Black Bear Island in the Mecca Dante Stakes at York, and, having worked well since, could represent the each-way value in the race.

Investec Coronation Cup

Aiden O'Brien, Clive Brittain and Saeed bin Suroor have been the trainers to follow in the Coronation Cup in recent years, with two wins apiece in the last 10 years. Favourite for this year's renewal, at the time of writing, however, is Mick Channon's Youmzain (11/4 with William Hill), a proven Group One performer who has the unenviable record of finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2008 and 2007. Twice a Group One winner overseas, Youmzain made a satisfactory reappearance when finishing fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, but given his propensity for finding trouble in running, may not be one to take too short a price about. That said, a strong gallop would be in his favour, and, if everything does drop right, he could easily outclass his rivals.

Sir Michael Stoute's Ask, beaten nearly five lengths by Youmzain in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last year, and opposing on identical terms here, is currently second favourite (6/1 with Sporting Bet and William Hill). This gives an indication of Youmzain's superiority over his rivals, at least, on paper. Ask went on to finish last of seven (at odds-on) in the Group Three St. Simon Stakes at Newbury on his final start last year, but is better judged on his six-length win in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup at York on his reappearance. With the Irish St. Leger and another crack at the Arc on the agenda in his final season he could take advantage if Youmzain fails to deliver.

Investec Oaks

The head of the Oaks market features three fillies that are very difficult to separate on form, but the fact that the leading bookmakers bet 8/1 bar the front three suggests that the winner of the fillies' classic may well lie amongst them.

Favourite, but only just, at the time of writing is Michael Bell's Sariska (a standout 11/4 with Sporting Bet) after her win in the principal Oaks trial, the Musidora Stakes at York. Sariska was visually impressive that day, but the time of the race was slow, and none of the last 10 Musidora winners went on to win at Epsom, although several were placed. John Gosden's Rainbow View (7/2 with Totesport and Sporting Bet) started odds-on for the 1,000 Guineas as the result of an unbeaten two-year-old campaign, but could only plug on at one pace to finish fifth. The fast ground at Newmarket may not have been entirely suitable for her, but she, too, has questions to answer.

The most interesting entry of all is Henry Cecil's Midday (4/1 with Bet365, VC Bet, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and William Hill) whose striking performance in the Listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield saw her promoted to the forefront of the Oaks betting. She won very easily, by six lengths, that day, but also handled the undulations of the course exceptionally well, which should stand her in good stead for the rigours of Tattenham Corner at Epsom.