Thursday's Classic insight, including an Oaks market mover and Dante contenders

The 2021 Flat season is well under way and it's full steam ahead to the first of the Irish Classics this month – and – and next month's Epsom Classics, the and .

Market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials are run in Britain and Ireland, but big-race contenders can come from anywhere and it's easy to miss a potential dark horse. Classic Clues, our new series running every morning, has you covered.

Here's a recap of Wednesday's action and how it impacted the Classic betting.

Racing round-up: Snowfall lands the Musidora

Snowfall’s impressive win in the Musidora Stakes saw her odds for the Cazoo Oaks shorten to 6-1 (from 33) with Paddy Power.

It was Aidan O’Brien’s first winner in the race, with Snowfall’s three-and-three-quarter-length success also impressing Sky Bet, who make her a 4-1 shot for the second fillies' Classic.

The daughter of Deep Impact picked up her first win since her maiden in July and it means O’Brien is responsible for the front two in the market for the Oaks, with Santa Barbara still favourite.

Masterful Ryan Moore key to Snowfall's dominant success

Her victory came at the expense of the fancied Noon Star and Teona, who could manage only second and third behind Snowfall.

Noon Star, who was 7-1 for the Oaks before the Musidora, has been pushed out to 12-1 with bet365, while Teona is out to 10-1 (from 5).

Results, replays and analysis

Market movers

Cazoo Derby

John Leeper 16-1 (from 20), Betfred
Gear Up 20-1 (from 33), Paddy Power

Cazoo Oaks

Santa Barbara 2-1 (from 11-4), William Hill
Snowfall 6-1 (from 33), Paddy Power
Teona 10-1 (from 5), Betfair
Noon Star 12-1 (from 7), bet365
Sea Empress 12-1 (from 25), Paddy Power

What they said

Ryan Moore, jockey of Snowfall
She ran in all the best races last year and it didn't happen for her, but she certainly has plenty of class. I'm sure she'll be in the mix for all those big fillies' races now.

Today's racing: Dante day

After the excitement of the Musidora Stakes, Thursday belongs to the colts. The Group 2 Dante Stakes (3.10) is a well-known path to Epsom, and features six Cazoo Derby entries from a field of 11.

While the last horse to win the Dante and run in the Derby, Telecaster in 2019, finished last, this race has turned up Classic winners in the past.

The John Gosden-trained Golden Horn was the last Dante winner to triumph in the Derby, and John and Thady Gosden run two this year. Only one, Uncle Bryn, has an entry for Epsom in June, and he is 33-1 with bet365.

However, all eyes will be drawn to High Definition, who missed the Lingfield Derby Trial due to a bad blood count. Before his Lingfield run was aborted, the son of Galileo was favourite for the Derby, but has since been overtaken by O’Brien’s other leading hopeful, Bolshoi Ballet.

O’Brien also runs Roman Empire, a 66-1 Derby entry with bet365, while Godolphin are represented by Hurricane Lane, who is a 20-1 chance with William Hill for the Classic on June 5.

Rounding off the runners with entries for Epsom are Gear Up for Mark Johnston (20-1 for the Derby with Paddy Power) and the Roger Varian-trained Royal Champion (50-1 with bet365).

Read Thursday's race previews:

Time to find out if High Definition can bring clarity to Derby picture

Passion the one to beat on ratings, but will she cope with a drop in trip?

Acklam Express adds Group 1 stardust to cracking Listed sprint

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