St Nicholas Abbey, Long Time Ante Post Favourite for The Derby For So Long is OUT of Friday’s Derby.
Fame and Glory Out of Derby
The three-year-old colt was on Tuesday morning found to have suffered a slight muscle injury in a hind quarter. A statement on Coolmore.com reads;
“St Nicholas Abbey was due to work first thing this morning, however when he came out of his box we noticed he was stiff behind. He had looked slightly stiff yesterday evening. His work on Friday last was a little lacklustre for him and that was the first time we had seen anything different but he was fine afterwards.
He was immediately examined and scanned by our vets this morning. They found a slight muscle injury high up in his hind quarter. This meant he could not work today and we were advised to give him an easy few days.
Obviously this will preclude him from running in the Investec Derby on Saturday. We always thought St Nicholas Abbey could walk on water and it is very unfortunate for all concerned to have a setback like this so close to the big race..”
Winter favourite St Nicholas Abbey has been announced as a non-runner for the Investec Derby this morning.
Jan Vermeer is the 13/8 favourite for Saturday’s Investec Derby with Stan James following the news that long time antepost favourite St Nicholas Abbey will miss the race. Trainer Aidan O’Brien reported the colt pulled out of his box stiff this morning before he was due to work.
Head of PR Charlie McCann: “The news of the defection of St Nicholas Abbey is not wholly unexpected given he was out to 7/2 before news of his injury came to light this morning. We suggest Johnny Murtagh will now ride Jan Vermeer the only Group 1 winner left in the field but the big question now is how many will Ballydoyle saddle? One would expect impressive Derrinstown Derby Trial winner Midas Touch will be on the plane to Epsom but will the unbeaten Cape Blanco take his chance or go to Chantilly for the French version on Sunday?”
The Derby 2010 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3):
13-8 Jan Vermeer (from 7/4)
5 Workforce (from 6)
6 Midas Touch (from 7)
13-2 Bullet Train (from 7)
9 Cape Blanco (unchanged)
10 Rewilding (from 11)
14 Azmeel
20 Coordinated Cut
28 Al Zir
28 Ted Spread
66 Bar
William Hill spokesman David Hood said, “This is a real body blow for punters. St Nicholas Abbey had been the long time favourite for the Derby ever since his win in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last October. Of course, ante post liabilities are only a fraction of what is incurred on the day, but we estimate that punters would already have stood to win in excess of £3million across the industry.”
Latest Investec Derby Betting: 13-8 Jan Vermeer (from 7-4), 11-2 Workforce (from 6), 6-1 Midas Touch (from 7), Bullet Train (from 8), 9-1 Rewilding, 12-1 Azmeel, Cape Blanco, 20-1 Coordinated Cut, 25-1 Al Zir, 40-1 Ted Spread, 66-1 Buzzword, Hot Prospect 150-1 At First Sight, 200-1 Bright Horizon – (EW ¼ 1,2,3) NR St Nicholas Abbey
David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “It’s dreadful news for punters. They kept the faith all through the Winter. We reckon at least £2 million has been staked on St Nicholas Abbey since late last Summer. There’s no way to soften the blow. It highlights the perils of antepost punting but the timing and scale of the news have combined to render it very bleak news indeed.”
Ladbrokes Prices: 7/4 Jan Vermeer, 6 Workforce, 7 Midas Touch, 7 Bullet Train, 7 Cape Blanco, 10 Rewilding, 14 Azmeel, 20 Coordinated Cut, 25 Al Zir, 40 Ted Spread, 50 Buzzword, 50 Hot Prospect, 66 bar (1/4 odds 1,2,3)
Given the money for Jan Vermeer and the vibes emanating from Ballydoyle over the past few days, it’s not the biggest surprise to see St Nicholas Abbey miss the Derby but this will be a real kick in the teeth for ante-post punters who had piled on the Racing Post Trophy winner over the winter,’ said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.
Investec Derby – totesport bet: 13/8 (from 7/4) Jan Vermeer, 6 (from 7) Bullet Train, Midas Touch, Workforce, 9 Cape Blanco, 10 (from 12) Rewilding, 12 (from 14) Azmeel, 20 (from 25) Coordinated Cut, 25 Al Zir, Ted Spread, 40 (from 50) Buzzword, 50 (from 66) Hot Prospect, 100 At First Sight, 150 Bright Horizon.
Get the latest Derby odds with 888 Sport
