Duke attracts support for 2000 Guineas
The Danehill colt was readily available at 7-1 on Tuesday morning for the Classic, but Coral have slashed his price to turn the tables on his Newmarket conquerors Cockney Rebel and Vital Equine.
Duke Of Marmalade could only finish fourth at Newmarket but punters are expecting the colt to reverse the form and claim a fifth success for O’Brien in the mile event.
“Although Cockney Rebel remains favourite to complete the Guineas double, the money for Duke Of Marmalade suggests his backers believe he can overcome the deficit from Newmarket,” said Coral spokesman David Stevens.
Ladbrokes have also reported some serious support for Duke Of Marmalade.
“It takes serious money to see a horse shorten so significantly in the betting for a race of this magnitude. It looks like a good old-fashioned plunge on the Aidan O’Brien colt,” said the firm’s David Williams.
Despite being beaten at Newmarket, Eoghan O’Neill believes a bit more juice in the ground may help Vital Equine gain his revenge.
“For me, Cockney Rebel was the best horse on the day at Newmarket and we did our best to take the sting out of everything, but he picked us up and went by us like a really good horse,” said O’Neill.
“He was a worthy winner but I’m just hoping the ground will soften up. It is supposed to rain on Friday and that will help us.
“He (Cockney Rebel) is a super horse and Geoff Huffer is a great trainer so it is going to be difficult for us but we’ll give it a good shot and if you’re not in, you can’t win.
“He is not the only horse in the race though, and I would have the utmost respect for Duke Of Marmalade.
“He (Vital Equine) tries his hardest and he’s the best colt I’ve ever been around.
“It’s a great thrill to have a guy like this to take us to all the big meetings and run with such credit,” he told At The Races.
Vital Equine is one of a number of Newmarket runners who could clash again with Cockney Rebel but 10th-placed Haatef will not be trying his luck.
“He won’t run on Saturday,” trainer Kevin Prendergast told www.sportinglife.com.
“He has had a bit of a setback and will not run for a while. It is just a blood disorder, but we have no plans yet. We need to get him right.”
Boylesports 2000 Guineas betting:
Ladbrokes: 11-10 Cockney Rebel, 3-1 Duke Of Marmalade, 5-1 Vital Equine, 8-1 Creachadoir, Eagle Mountain, Excellent Art, 25-1 Ferneley, Followmyfootsteps, 33-1 Fleeting Shadow, 40-1 bar.
totesport: 11-10 Cockney Rebel, 7-2 Duke of Marmalade, 5-1 Vital Equine, 7-1 Eagle Mountain, 8-1 Excellent Art, 10-1 Creachadoir, 14-1 Haatef, 20-1 Fleeting Shadow, 25-1 Ferneley, 33-1 Followmyfootsteps, Trinity College, 40-1 bar.
William Hill: 11-10 Cockney Rebel, 3-1 Duke Of Marmalade, 4-1 Vital Equine, 7-1 Creachadoir, Eagle Mountain, 14-1 Haatef, 20-1 Followmyfootsteps, 25-1 Ferneley, He’s A Decoy, 33-1 Fleeting Shadow, 40-1 bar.
Cashmans: Evs Cockney Rebel, 7/4 A. P. O'Brien S'ble,9/2 Vital Equine, 8 Creachadoir, 10 D. Wachman Stable, 16 Ferneley, 40 Traffic Guard, Fleeting Shadow, 100 Confuchias.
