Money flies in for ‘impressive’ 2000 Guineas outsider as bookies decide to take on red-hot fav City Of Troy

MONEY has come in for Karl Burke’s ‘impressive’ 2000 Guineas outsider – as bookies decided they’re willing to take on red-hot favourite City Of Troy.

Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering superstar has been labelled the next Frankel.

And while he is 8-13 to win the first Classic of the season at 3.35pm on Saturday, this strapping son of Justify is just 6-1 to win the Triple Crown.

Ballydoyle boss O’Brien has said City Of Troy is the best two-year-old he has trained.

And already he is as short as 6-4 to win the Derby in June.

If further success in the St Leger at Doncaster follows later in the year then those 6-1 odds will look a real bargain.

But nothing is ever certain in racing.

Punters had their fingers burned by O’Brien’s subsequent Derby hero Auguste Rodin in the 2000 Guineas last year, after he finished 12th of 14 at odds of 13-8.

No one would dispute Auguste Rodin is not a great horse – it just didn’t happen for him over the Rowley Mile last May.

And those banking on something similar happening to City Of Troy have been nibbling at the price of another horse who could have a huge run in him.

Burke’s Night Raider could not have been more impressive on debut at Southwell last December and backed that up when seen again in March.

This will be his first run on turf and punters reckon he can carry that all-weather form over, with his price shortening.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “As the Official Betting Partner of the Qipco Guineas Festival, it’s great to have a horse of City Of Troy’s undoubted ability line up in the race.

“Whilst he remains the hot favourite to win the first Classic of the season at 8-13, we expect he might be the latest Ballydoyle star to attempt to win the Triple Crown.

“Although this famous treble hasn’t been completed since the great Nijinsky in 1970, we don’t want to be on the wrong side of history and price City Of Troy to win the big three at Newmarket, Epsom, and Doncaster at 6-1.

“Away from City Of Troy in the Guineas, who has been very solid in the betting, we’ve seen some support for impressive Southwell scorer Night Raider, and have clipped him into 14-1 from 16-1.”

While Charlie Appleby has also seen support for one of his at a decent price.

However, Ladbrokes were taking a different approach on City Of Troy and indicated they were ready to take him on.

Nicola McGeady of the firm said: “City Of Troy is the one they all have to beat, but we are happy to take him on with plenty of interesting horses up against him and make him 8-11 favourite.”

2000 Guineas odds via William Hill

8-13 City Of Troy
5-1 Rosallion
10-1 Notable Speech
14-1 Night Raider
16-1 Ghostwriter
18-1 Alyanaabi
22-1 Task Force
25-1 Iberian
33-1 Haatem
40-1 Inisherin
50-1 Ten Bob Tony

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