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Fame and Glory new Derby favourite12th May 2009
Fame and Glory swept into Epsom favouritism with most bookmakers after a five-length win in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.
Of the major firms, only Ladbrokes retain John Oxx's 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars as 5-2 market leader and even they admit his position is under threat from Aidan O'Brien's colt (3-1).
Fame And Glory's win under Seamus Heffernan from Mourayan mirrored his success in last month's Ballysax Stakes and emulated the Derby buildup of O'Brien's previous two Derby winners, Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002).
As Oxx trains both Mourayan and Sea The Stars, he is best placed to judge the Derby picture but, as only a week ago we were hailing the Guineas as a fine trial, Ladbrokes' decision to stick with that form and retain Sea The Stars half a point shorter at 5-2 looks justified.
Only a fantastic performance from Brian Meehan's Crowded House in Thursday's Dante Stakes at York can now seriously affect the Derby betting.
O'Brien, who also won Saturday's Lingfield Derby Trial with Age Of Aquarius (16-1), looks like having a big say in that as well with the well-touted Freemantle. He also has Rip Van Winkle (7-1) as an Epsom possible but stable jockey Johnny Murtagh looks sure to ride Fame And Glory in the big one.
In the frame: Fame And Glory wins at Leopardstown yesterday