Epsom updates: City Of Troy steadying at top of Derby market with Ambiente Friendly a notable mover

City Of Troy is consolidating at the head of the market for the Betfred Derby (4.30), with Ambiente Friendly and Ancient Wisdom among a cluster of horses gaining support ahead of the Epsom Classic.

Last year's champion juvenile, who was unbeaten in three starts before losing that record when a well-beaten ninth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, is no bigger than 11-4 to bounce back having drifted to 7-2 at some points during the day..

Before suffering a first defeat in the Classic, the son of Justify won all three starts at two, including when finishing his season by landing the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.

Ambiente Friendly is attracting plenty of support for the DerbyCredit: John Grossick

Ancient Wisdom and Ambiente Friendly have now joined City Of Troy's stablemate Los Angeles as co-second-favourites. 

Owned by Godolphin, Ancient Wisdom is now a general 11-1 price (from 6), while the James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly has been attracting plenty of support and is also 11-2 (from 8). 

Ancient Wisdom was last seen finishing well behind Economics in the Dante at York, but Robert Havlin’s mount Ambiente Friendly was successful in the Derby Trial at Lingfield last month.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Both of Aidan O'Brien's big two, including City Of Troy, are on the drift, possibly due to Ylang Ylang and Rubies Are Red finishing sixth and ninth in yesterday’s Oaks. Ambiente Friendly has now come in for plenty of support after being easy to back earlier this morning and there’s also been considerable money for Roger Teal’s French Guineas runner-up Dancing Gemini.”

Posted at 1.35pm

Teal hopeful of big Derby run from Dancing Gemini

Connections of Dancing Gemini hope to ease the heartbreak of missing out on French 2,000 Guineas glory by landing the Betfred Derby (4.30) at Epsom.

Trained by Lambourn’s Roger Teal, the son of Camelot was a fast-finishing second finished behind Metropolitan at Longchamp last time out.

It was another strong run from Dancing Gemini, who has been a breakout star for Teal and has every chance of securing the biggest success of his career in the £1.5 million contest. He has been cut to 9-1 (from 12) with most firms.

Speaking on ITV’s Opening Show, Teal said: "We thought we had a decent horse quite early on in his training when we started with him and he’s proved us right. He was a bit unlucky not to win first time out, he just fluffed his lines at the start but finished the race off well.

Dancing Gemini: was second at Longchamp last time outCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He’s always grown as a two-year-old and he never really furnished off, but he has now. He looks really good and he’s got stronger. The team works hard together and it’ll be amazing if he can run well."

• 'Every bookie on track wants to be against City Of Troy' - Derby verdicts from the layers at Epsom 

However, Kevin Blake believes the step up to a mile and a half – the furthest Dancing Gemini will have travelled – could be an issue.

He said: "I really like the horse but I do worry about his stamina. He’s fast and he’ll need to adjust his speed by a good chunk. He’ll be ridden to do so. Dylan [Browne McMonagle] takes the ride and he’s never ridden at Epsom, but he knows the deal. 

"He’ll be ridden to conserve his energy and the first five furlongs are key. He’ll be hoping the pace is rock and roll up front."

Posted at 11am

• Watch: Paul Kealy, Johnny Dineen and Nick Luck preview the Derby on The Morning Post 

Ground set to continue drying with no rain expected

Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper has not ruled out the ground quickening even further before the Betfred Derby (4.30) after a dry night yielded a change in the going to good to soft, good in places (from good to soft) on Saturday morning.

Only a small amount of rain hit the track on Oaks day on Friday and no more is forecast for Saturday, with temperatures expected to peak around 19 to 20C.

Ryan Moore, Charlie Appleby and William Buick at Epsom on Saturday morningCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

 Cooper said: "We're expecting a dry day with no rain at all. On that basis, there will be an element of drying throughout the day. It's clearly not going to be blistering hot or windy, which certainly dries you out quickly.

"We've obviously opened up a mile of fresh ground on the inner to where we were yesterday on the Derby course. I think all of that is pretty much good to soft. The good places are certainly on the back straight of the Derby course."

A field of 16 line up in the Derby, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained City Of Troy heading the market at a top-priced 11-4. Stablemate Los Angeles, the Godolphin-owned Ancient Wisdom and the James Fanshawe-trained Ambiente Friendly are also prominent in the betting.

Posted at 8.30am

Non-runners

Epsom
2.00 -Sparks Fly
3.10 - Tan Rapido
3.45 - One Night Stand
5.15 - L'Astronome
5.50 - Al Barez

Updated at 1.45pm

Market movers

Epsom
2.00 - Chic Colombine 4-1 (from 9-2)
2.35 - Sean 9-1 (from 10)
3.10 - Mashadi 7-1 (from 15-2)
3.45 - Silky Wilkie 7-2 (from 4
4.30 - Ambiente Friendly 6-1 (from 8), Dancing Gemini 9-1 (from 12), Bellum Justum 16 (from 25), Sayedaty Sadaty 33 (from 50), Gods Window 50 (from 66)

Updated at 1.35pm

Read our Saturday previews:

2.00 Epsom: It should be a penalty kick but can she be trusted? Running Lion bids for overdue first Group win 

2.35 Epsom: Can nine-year-old Regal Reality defy the odds and become the oldest winner of the Diomed Stakes? 

3.10 Epsom: 'He's a seriously fast horse' - full field of 20 get set for an intriguing three-year-old Dash 

3.45 Epsom: Blink and you'll miss it: speedsters set to fly in fastest five furlongs of all, the Dash 

4.30 Epsom: 'He's always had loads of class and stamina' - Aidan O'Brien, Charlie Appleby and more on their big Derby hopefuls 

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