Epsom countdown: how did the Guineas action affect the Derby and Oaks markets?

The 2022 Flat season is in full swing after the first two Classics of the season, the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas.

Attention now turns towards Epsom with the Cazoo Derby and Oaks next month and market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials continue to be run. Our Classic Clues series has you covered.

Here's a recap of the action over the weekend and how it has impacted the Classic betting, while we mark your card with key names to note on Monday.

Newmarket round-up: Coroebus and Cachet land opening Classics

The 2022 Classics kicked off in magnificent style at Newmarket over the weekend, starting with the 2,000 Guineas, which was won in determined style by Coroebus under James Doyle.

He led home a Charlie Appleby and Godolphin one-two, with last year's leading juvenile Native Trail filling the runner-up spot.

While it seems almost certain that Coroebus will head to Royal Ascot for the St James's Palace Stakes, some of the beaten horses look set to bid for Classic compensation, with Native Trail a possible for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh this month.

The Newmarket result has had major ramifications for the Derby picture, most notably with third-placed Luxembourg. The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Camelot ran an eyecatching race, having stumbled out of the stalls, and enhanced his already strong Derby claims.

With the step up to 1m4f certain to suit him better according to many, Luxembourg is now a general 5-2 favourite to emulate his sire as a Derby winner.

2,000 Guineas fallout: Luxembourg's price for the Derby is 'ludicrous'

The Roger Varian-trained Eydon ran a stormer to finish fourth and enhance his own Derby claims. He is as short as 14-1 but is not a certain runner at Epsom, with a tilt at the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly a possibility.

Cachet just lasted the mile trip to claim more Classic glory for Doyle in the 1,000 Guineas, but the pointer forward to Epsom could be third-placed Tuesday.

The daughter of the late Galileo ran a perfectly respectable race and was unchanged as 7-2 favourite for the Oaks, given that she has an abundance of stamina in her pedigree and looks likely to relish the step up in trip.

On the 1,000 Guineas undercard, With The Moonlight stormed into Oaks contention with a wide-margin success in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes and was cut to 8-1 (from 40) for Epsom glory.

Market movers

Cazoo Derby

Luxembourg5-2 favourite (from 100-30)
Eydon16-1 (from 33)
Native Trail12-1 (from 10)

Cazoo Oaks

With The Moonlight8-1 (from 40)

All eyes on . . .

Moving on to Monday's action, the Tetrarch Stakes (2.20) at the Curragh could play a role in shaping the Classics to come.

All bar one of the seven runners in the Listed mile contest hold Classic entries and Dr Zempf, the Leopardstown Guineas Trial winner who missed Newmarket for this, will try to cement his claims for the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Buckaroo was narrowly denied by Derby hope Piz Badile in the Ballysax Stakes last month and holds entries in the Epsom Classic and Irish 2,000, while once-raced winners Malex and Wexford Native are also in the Irish 2,000.

Away from the track, the final fields for the opening day of Chester's May festival will be revealed, featuring two important Classic trials in the Chester Vase (3.10) and Cheshire Oaks (2.40).

Derby second favourite New London could attempt to enhance his Classic claims for the Godolphin juggernaut in the Vase. The last to complete the Vase-Derby double was Ruler Of The World in 2013, although Wings Of Eagles finished second in 2017 before Epsom glory.

The great Enable was the last Cheshire Oaks winner to score at Epsom, in 2017, and Above The Curve, who is as short as 12-1 for the Oaks, could make the trip from Ireland for Joseph O'Brien, while the regally bred Ching Shih also has an Oaks entry.

How the markets look

Cazoo Oaks (4.30 Epsom, June 3)

bet365: 7-2 Tuesday, 4 Emily Upjohn, 8 Nashwa, With The Moonlight, 10 Agave, Inspiral, Life Of Dreams, 12 Concert Hall, 16 Above The Curve, Magical Lagoon, 25 bar

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4)

Paddy Power: 5-2 Luxembourg, 7 Reach For The Moon, 15-2 New London, 10 Coroebus, Native Trail, 12 Walk Of Stars, 16 Cash, Eydon, Piz Badile, Point Lonsdale, 20 bar

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday