St Nicholas Can Confirm his place at the head of the 2010 Derby Odds with Racing Post Trophy Win

The Aidan O’Brien trained St Nicholas Abbey is a best priced 2/1 favourite for Saturday’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, a  Group One race for two year olds that is synonymous with providing future Derby prospects. The race has  thrown up three  Derby winners in the past ten years and the Ballydoyle representative could well add to that statistic if the betting for the 2010 Derby is anything to go by.

St Nicholas Abbey already heads the betting for next year’s Epsom Classic after two wins from two starts, the latter of which was the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last month, the same race Sea the Stars won last season. The 8/1 quote  in next year’s Derby suggests big things are expected for the son of Montjeu and he is half of the odds of his closest rival, Coordinated Cat, who also takes his chance in the Racing Post Trophy.

There are big risks associated with backing two year olds antepost for any of the Classics but after tomorrow’s race, the 8/1 on offer with Bet365 could look like exceptional value.  However, the same could be said about several other of the runners in the Racing Post Trophy, the majority of whom also hold entries in the Guineas and Derby and with nine of the twelve runners having only seen a racecourse on three or fewer occasions, further improvement can be expected from most.

Last year’s winner of this race was Crowded House a result which saw him sit aloft of both the Guineas and Derby betting throughout the winter before disappointing runs in just his two starts this term. Trainer Brian Meehan will be hoping that his entry in Saturday’s renewal, Dancing David, is not to go the same way. The unbeaten duo of Elusive Pimppernel and Al Zir sit behind St Nicholas Abbey in the bookmakers lists, with the latter of the pair a convincing winner at Doncaster last time out and trained by Godolphin who are showing signs of returning to Flat Racing’s top table in 2010 with several exciting prospects in training.

With so little form to go on for the Racing Post Trophy, much has to be relied on reputation and excpecation and nobody can cast doubt Aidan O’Brien’s credentials wehn it coems to trainer top class Colts over 1 mile and 1 mile 4 furlongs and with St Nicholas Abbey seemingly the stable’s next superstar, it will take a brave man to oppose the favourite with any confidence.

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Racing Post Trophy Tip
St Nicholas Abbey 2/1 with Ladbrokes

Racing Post Trophy Betting – 3:30, Doncaster, Saturday 24th October 2009
St Nicholas Abbey 2/1
Elusive Pimpernel 7/2
Al Zir 9/2
Coordinated Cat 6/1
Shakespearan 14/1
Dancing David 16/1
Morana 16/1
Mussafer 20/1
Al Ghazal 25/1
Elusive Award 33/1
Hanson’D 40/1
Big Audio 50/1