How has a setback to the favourite Luxembourg affected the Derby market?

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 on Friday and how it has impacted the Classic betting, while we mark your card with key names to note on Saturday.

Friday round-up: Derby favourite Luxembourg suffers setback

On a day where Classic contenders were few and far between on the track, some big news broke regarding ante-post Derby favourite Luxembourg who may face a race against time to be fit for the Epsom Classic following a setback.

Following an eyecatching run at Newmarket in the 2,000 Guineas, stumbling at the start before keeping on to the line to finish within two and a quarter lengths of Coroebus, Luxembourg was as short as 7-4 for the Derby for much of the week but ante-post punters face a nervous wait for more news from the O’Brien camp.

O’Brien explained that his colt was a little lame on his off-hind, but indicated that more should be known in the next couple of days when a further update will be provided.

The setback inevitably shook up the Derby market with some firms now marking Luxembourg up at as big as 6-1. O'Brien is still healthily represented at the top of the betting with Wednesday's impressive Chester Vase winner Changingoftheguard shortening into around 5-1 for the Epsom Classic on June 4.

What they said

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Luxembourg

"Luxembourg was a little bit off after his canter this morning. He was a little lame on his off-hind. We are not sure of the reason why at this stage, but we wanted to let everybody know with the Derby coming up. Hopefully in a couple of days, we will know more and we will issue an update then."

Market movers

Cazoo Derby

Luxembourg 4 (from 7-4)

Changingoftheguard 5 (from 10)

All eyes on... Lingfield Derby and Oaks Trials

Classic trials return on Saturday with Lingfield hosting both a Derby and an Oaks trial that in 2019 produced the winners of the two Epsom Classics.

The SBK Derby Trial (2.40) hosts a field of four with Walk Of Stars, the current second favourite for Epsom glory, likely to head the betting after taking a Newbury conditions race won last year by stablemate Hurricane Lane.

Aidan O’Brien took this Listed contest with Anthony Van Dyck in 2019 and he runs United Nations, who was last seen running behind another Godolphin Derby contender in Nahanni at the Surrey track.

The Oaks Trial (3.15) follows and has attracted a bigger field but it looks a weaker contest with only the O’Brien-trained Emily Dickinson and Suzy’s Shoes for Eve Johnson Houghton holding entries for the fillies’ showpiece.

All eyes will be on the daughter of Dubawi though, hailing from Classic master O’Brien, who overcame her greenness to break her maiden at the third attempt in a 1m2f Naas maiden last time out.

How the markets look

Cazoo Oaks (4.30 Epsom, June 3)

Sky Bet: 7-2 Tuesday, 4 Emily Upjohn, 7 Agave, 15-2 Life Of Dreams, 8 With The Moonlight, 10 Concert Hall, 12 Nashwa, Inspiral, Above The Curve, Thoughts Of June, 16 bar

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4)

bet365: 9-2 Luxembourg, 5 Changingoftheguard, 7 Walk Of Stars, Desert Crown, 8 Piz Badile, 10 Point Lonsdale, 12 Stone Age, 14 Eydon, New London, Star Of India, 16 Buckaroo, Cash, Westover, 25 bar

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