Paddy Power have reported a flood of money for Constitution River ahead of next month's Epsom Derby.
As is common with the Coolmore owned runners, Constitution River holds entries in most of the leading contests but expectation had been that the son of Wootton Bassett would head to France for the Prix du Jockey Club [French Derby] over 10 furlongs.
A winner of three of his four starts, Constitution River jumped to the top of the market for the French Classic after impressing in the Dee Stakes at Chester, for all that he was sent off the 2/9 favourite.
The latest market moves suggest that those tentative plans have now changed as Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield explained: “We have seen some notable movement in our Derby markets this morning with Constitution River shortening dramatically to 5/2 favourite from 9/2 for Epsom after sustained support.
"He’s gone the other way in the French equivalent listing and has been usurped at the front of the market by Hawk Mountain for Chantilly.”
Paddy Power initially pushed Constitution River out to 5/1 from 6/4 for the Prix du Jockey Club.
His trainer Aidan O'Brien, however, suggested that France was still Plan A when interviewed from the Curragh on Racing TV.
"I thought that was the way the lads were thinking but maybe I didn't hear yet," he said.
"I presume, and I thought, that he was going to go to France and Hawk Mountain might go to France as well. Maybe that's changed but that's what I thought."
Following that interview, it was all change in the Paddy Power trading room with Binfield reporting: "Our traders have been left scratching their heads after originally making Constitution River favourite this morning following sustained support.
"But then Aidan’s statement that he thought ‘everyone was leaning towards the French Derby,’ has meant Benvenuto Cellini is now back at the front of the market with Constitution River joint second favourite as Aidan did add ‘that could all change’.”
Their latest betting* for the Betfred Derby is:
Paddy Power odds: 11/4 Benvenuto Cellini, 7/2 Constitution River, Item, 8/1 Maltese Cross, Pierre Bonnard, 10/1 James J Braddock, 16/1 Bay Of Brilliance, 20/1 Ancient Egypt, Hawk Mountain, 33/1 Action, Causeway, Christmas Day, 50s bar
1/5 odds, 3 places each-way
*as of 15:13 on 24/05/26
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