‘He’s A Big Price’ – O’Brien Nominates 20-1 Derby Outsider As Being A Value Play For Epsom

[Wandering Eyes]

Aidan O'Brien has talked up the credentials of ante-post Derby favourite Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) but put forward 20-1 chance Montreal (Sea The Stars) as being a potential sleeper in the market for the Epsom Classic. 

O'Brien has won the past three editions of the Derby – with Lambourn, City Of Troy and Auguste Rodin – and will be bidding to land a record-extending 12th success in the race this year. 

Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Pierre Bonnard was reported to be on track to run in the key Derby trials at Leopardstown en route to Epsom, for which he is a general 11-2 chance. 

However, speaking at the Ballydoyle press morning on Monday, O'Brien warned against underestimating the merits of unexposed colt Montreal, who was last seen winning a Leopardstown maiden in August by 10 lengths.

“Montreal was very smart at Leopardstown when he won,” O'Brien replied when asked to nominate a Derby outsider. “Isaac Newton (Camelot) is a very dark horse as well. I don't know whether he will get to the Derby ahead of the others, or whether he will end up at Ascot, but he's a very dark horse and is much better than what people think. But, listen, it's very hard to not have an each-way [bet] on Montreal. He's a big price.”

Confirming that Pieere Bonnard was on track to run in both the Ballysax and the Leopardstown Derby Trial, O'Brien said of the ante-post Derby favourite, “He's very straightforward. He's a big Camelot and is very relaxed and very chilled. Christophe [Soumillon] was always super-impressed with him. Ryan has never ridden him [in a race] and only rode him yesterday [Sunday] morning for the first time.”

He added, “We ran him at Leopardstown first time, where he got beaten in a maiden, and I can remember I was afraid going to Dundalk with him because I wasn't sure about the ground. Wayne [Lordan] told me that he would handle Dundalk without any bother and he loved the fast ground. So he handles fast ground and you'd imagine he will get a-mile-and-a-half well because he's so relaxed. He's big and he's classy and he has done very well over the winter.

“The Derby is still the race, it's what the whole breed is based on. You can kid yourself about other races and some of them are great for the older horses but anyone that breeds a horse, that is where they are aimed. Some of them don't do an awful lot after it because it is such a tough race. It's the ultimate test, mental, physical, they have to be quick, they have to stay. It's a brutal race, but that is the way it has to be, unforgiving. It's the race the whole breed is based on. It's just the way it is.”

The post ‘He’s A Big Price’ – O’Brien Nominates 20-1 Derby Outsider As Being A Value Play For Epsom appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article