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Bookies Expect Carlton House to Start Hot Favourite for Derby Despite Injury Scare 03/06/11

The Queen’s Carlton House is set to start hot favourite for tomorrow’s Investec Derby, having recovered from an injury scare earlier this week that cast some doubt over the colt’s participation in the Epsom Classic. The Royal runner has been hot favourite for the race since his win in York’s Dante Stakes last month, and Coral are confident punters will still be keen to back Her Majesty’s charge.

Carlton House
© Racehorse Photos

“It’s great that Carlton House will line up in the big race, as his status as the Queen’s horse has taken the Derby to a wider audience than usual. He deserves to be favourite for the race, not because he is owned by Her Majesty, but because he won a leading trial in good style, is trained by the most successful current Derby trainer, is ridden by last year’s winning jockey, and is our biggest ante-post loser by some distance,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

“Obviously the injury scare at the start of the week shook up the market for a couple of days, but clearly connections would only give the green light for Carlton House to run if they were confident he was 100% fit and ready, and so we don’t think punters will be put off backing him,” added Stevens.

“There is every chance he could start as short as Authorized, who was 5-4 favourite when giving Frankie Dettori his first Derby win in 2007, and there’s no doubt that a Royal win would be costly for bookmakers, although it really would be one of those occasions when we pay out with a smile,” said Stevens.