Aidan lands a Derby bounty
O’Brien’s colt rattles Epsom with Derby shock
Serpentine sprang a long-odds shock as he raced to a famous victory at the Epsom Derby.
Aidan O’Brien’s 25-1 shot led from the start yesterday and romped in to win by five lengths.
Rider Emmet McNamara said: “I didn’t expect this but Aidan told me he is the one horse that could win the Derby.”
O’Brien said: “It’s unbelievable really, we always thought he would stay very well.
“He won at the Curragh last week over 1m 2f and Wayne Lordan said he galloped right through the line and he couldn’t pull him up. I am delighted for the owners as this is obviously yet another Classic-winning homebred by Galileo.”
Paddy Power quickly made Serpentine a 25-1 chance for the (77/4) was a decent tthird despite not liliking the track.
O’Brien added: “She’s very, very sspecial. It’s hard tto say that you wwould ever hhave a filly better than that.
We saw what she did in the 1000 Guineas and she doubled it today and it’s only her second run of the year. It’s amazing.
“We were always hopeful the extra distance in the Oaks was going to improve her and Ryan gave her a lovely ride.”
Love is now as short as 5/1 in some places for the Arc.