Aidan O'Brien's The Lion In Winter Derby favourite again after betting market moves

Aidan O’Brien’s number one Betfred Derby contender is back at the head of the betting despite suffering defeat at York last week.

The Lion In Winter had been winter favourite for the Epsom Classic on the back of two successes on the track last year but had been held up since and was not ready to begin his campaign until appearing in the Dante Stakes. The colt was sent off the 8-11 favourite but could only finish sixth of the 11 runners, four lengths adrift of the winner Pride Of Arras.

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He was deposed as favourite and eased out to 6-1 by bookmakers after O’Brien stated that another contender Delacroix now appeared “the classiest" of his contenders but expected The Lion In Winter to improve significantly on his reappearance. He would know more in a week to ten days.

However the market spoke strongly for The Lion In Winter on Monday forcing bookmakers to revise their betting.

He is now one of three 7-2 co-favourites with Coral, sharing that position with Delacroix and the Godolphin 2,000 Guineas winner, Ruling Court.

Spokesperson David Stevens said: "Despite being well beaten in the Dante, we only eased The Lion In Winter to 6-1 for the Derby, as the last two years have shown us Aidan O'Brien can win the Derby with a horse going to Epsom off the back of a seemingly disappointing run.

“Over the weekend he was backed into 5-1, and then as a steady flow of support continued on Monday, we cut him first to 9-2, and then again to 7-2.

"We currently can't split him, Delacroix and Ruling Court at the head of our betting, and although he could yet reclaim outright favouritism, the deciding factor is likely to be Ryan Moore's choice of big race mount much nearer the time.”

The Lion In Winter was not the only Ballydoyle horse to attract support on Monday with Illinois being cut to 9-4 (from 6-1) with for the Ascot Gold Cup, following support for the recent Chester winner.

His Ballydoyle stablemate, Kyprios, who was lame immediately after winning at Naas on Friday, remains favourite for the Royal meeting highlight, but has been eased to 6-4 (from 10-11).