A HUGE 66-1 Derby outsider has been tipped to ‘run a huge race’ by jockey Jim Crowley – after two big names were ruled out of the Epsom feature.
Aidan O’Brien’s Capulet and Henry Longfellow have been officially scratched from the world’s most famous Flat race on June 1.
It leaves a full field of 21 after the latest entry stage for the colt Classic, with O’Brien’s City Of Troy the 7-4 favourite.
But an owner famed for having huge-priced horses outrun their odds looks to have another potential star on his hands.
Sun Racing’s Matt Chapman wrote in his column how Ahmad Al Shaikh was eyeing glory with Deira Mile.
He had Khalifa Sat finish second at 50-1 in 2020 and Hoo Ya Mal come runner-up at odds of 150-1 two years later.
The latter was sold Down Under for £1.2million as a result of that heroic second place.
But it’s Deira Mile who has punters purring ahead of his second run of the season.
Deira Mile was one of four horses who strutted their stuff on a gallops morning.
Crowley was in the saddle – as he will be in the Derby itself – and he waxed lyrical about the recent Windsor scorer.
He said: “He has improved a huge amount since Windsor, which wasn’t a strong race but a nice confidence booster.
“Physically, he has done very well since then and is surprising me.
“I was really happy with him today. He handled the track really well and he seems to be in a really good place.
“I am looking forward to riding him in the Derby and I think he’ll run a big race – I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t.
“He’ll stay very well and seems a well-balanced horse who is really thriving at the moment.
“His backend two-year-old form is strong and you can see how well he has done. It’s exciting.
“He’s not overly big but well-balanced and switched leads in the right places today. Everything went well today.
“The Derby looks a very open race but this horse is going there in great order and ready to run.”
While trainer Owen Burrows added: “His pedigree suggests that he was always going to be more of a three-year-old and you can see that – he’s a big lad.
“I also think the trip won’t bother him at all. He’s not slow.
“At the moment, the Derby is looking open.
“Godolphin have had some terrible luck and Aidan’s horse City OF Troy needs to come back.
“I was impressed with James Fanshawe’s Ambiente Friendly at Lingfield and I think it’s certainly a race you wouldn’t be afraid to have a crack at.”
Betfred Derby odds via Coral
7-4 City Of Troy
4-1 Ambiente Friendly
5-1 Los Angeles
10-1 Ancient Wisdom
12-1 Diego Velazquez, Macduff
14-1 Dancing Gemini
16-1 Bellum Justum, Voyage
20-1 Illinois
25-1 Defiance
33-1 Bar
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