Race of the year has bookies guessing with THREE horses battling to be favourite and outsiders being backed
THE best race of the year has bookies floundering – with THREE horses all battling it out for favouritism.
Derby hero Auguste Rodin, Epsom runner-up King Of Steel and recent Brigadier Stakes hero Hukum are all around the 7-2 mark.
Owen Burrows’ Hukum has been smashed in recent days to around 4-1 while Auguste Rodin, trained by Aidan O’Brien, and Roger Varian’s King Of Steel remain around the 3-1 mark.
Betting is so intense that Paddy Power even have a market on who will go off favourite with heavy showers forecast between now and the off time of 3.40pm on Saturday.
They make star three-year-old Auguste Rodin the 6-4 fav to go off SP fav – but make King Of Steel 11-4 fav to actually win the race.
The market within the market shows just how strong interest is in this year’s renewal, which is already being dubbed the race of the season.
It is not just those at the head of affairs being picked up though.
Coral reported a surge of support for 2022 Derby hero Desert Crown after he was backed into 6-1 from 13-2.
While Luxembourg – one of five O’Brien could field – was into 12s from 16-1.
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Coral’s David Stevens said: “The general consensus amongst pundits is that any one of the first seven or eight in the betting could win this stellar renewal of the King George, such is the quality of the potential field.
“And while this year’s Derby one-two remain joint favourites for the race, the latest market opposition to the pair has seen both Desert Crown and Luxembourg shorten for Saturday’s race.”
Victory in the £1.25million race will be worth more than £700,000 to the victor.
It is the first time this season punters will get to see this year’s Classic generation up against their elders.
And it promises to be an absolute stonker.
Although those considering backing Adelaide River – the horse whose ride in the Irish Derby raised eyebrows – may wish to reconsider.
Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman tweeted on Wednesday that genius Irish trainer O’Brien was considering scratching the horse ahead of tomorrow’s final declarations.
While French raider Simca Mille’s connections suggested their horse may miss out if the rain arrives.
King George odds (via Coral)
7-2 Auguste Rodin, King Of Steel
4 Hukum
9-2 Emily Upjohn
6 Desert Crown
7 Pyledriver
12 Luxembourg
16 Westover
20 Adelaide River
25 Deauville Legend, Simca Mille
40 Hamish
66 Point Lonsdale
100 Bolshoi Ballet, Broome
King George – to go off fav (via Paddy Power)
6-4 Auguste Rodin
9-4 King Of Steel
7-2 Hukum
5 Emily Upjohn
7 Desert Crown
16 Pyledriver
20 Luxembourg
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