Godolphin’s Ancient Wisdom failed to fully enhance his claims for the Epsom Derby, as it was a horse not even entered in the race, Economics for William Haggas, who stormed away with the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on Thursday. He relegated the pre-race favourite to a distant second as his sweeping move down the outside for Tom Marquand proved persistent,
The son of Night Of Thunder is not the most obviously well-bred for a test like the Derby, but the further they went in this 1m2½f contest, the further he went clear. The question will now be posed as to whether he is supplemented for the famous Classic on Saturday, 1st June, though he is in the Prix du Jockey Club (the French Derby), for which he is 8/1 from 33/1.
Ancient Wisdom and War Rooms battled it out for the runner-up spot in behind, with the former pushed out dramatically by the bookmakers after his turnover. He is now a best-priced 20/1 from 8s for the Derby, with the latter backed down in places to a low of 33/1 after significantly improving on his seasonal return.
Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy was gambled down even further as he looks to bounce back from his 2000 Guineas aberration. He is now trading at a high of 3/1, though plenty of bookmakers reacted by shortening him further off the back of the 2024 Dante Stakes.