The bookies were celebrating on Saturday evening after Serpentine led home an unlikely 1-2-3, according to the odds, in the Investec Derby at Epsom.
Aidan O'Brien became the most successful trainer in Derby history with his eighth win in the Classic, but it was with his fourth most fancied horse in the betting as Serpentine led them a merry dance off the front end.
Jockey Emmet McNamara opened up a 12-length lead early in the home straight and was not for catching, with five-and-a-half lengths separating him and runner-up Khalifa Sat at the line, with Amhran Na Bhfiann third.
The starting prices of the first three home were 25/1, 50/1 and 66/1, with the tricast paying almost £56,000.
Favourite Kameko was fourth, the second favourite English King was fifth, with Aidan O'Brien's most fancied pair, Mogul and Russian Emperor, sixth and seventh.
It was some relief for bookies who had taken a hammering earlier on in the Investec Oaks when Love, also trained by O'Brien, justified 11/10 favouritism with a devastating nine-length win.
Sky Bet's Michael Shinners reacted to the Derby by saying: "In what was an extraordinary race Serpentine at 25/1 has ultimately won easily. It doesn’t take a genius to work out it was a very favourable result with the placed horses being 50/1 and 66/1 respectively. We are now 8/1 the winner for the St Leger."
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield added: "We were fearing the worst after Love easily justified favouritism in the Oaks, but Serpentine was a cracking result in the Derby and the placed horses were massively in the bookies’ favour as well. It’s been a good day for the books."
Sky Bet go 9/2 about Love for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the same price as dual-winner Enable, while Betfair and Paddy Power go 5/1.
Neither quote Serpentine for the race, but William Hill and Bet Victor offer 14/1 about the Derby winner for Longchamp.
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