Friday's Classic insight, including market moves and a Cork maiden to note

The 2021 Flat season is well under way and it's full steam ahead to the first of the Irish Classics this month – the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas and Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas – and next month's Epsom Classics, the Cazoo Derby and Cazoo Oaks.

Market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials are run in Britain and Ireland, but big-race contenders can come from anywhere and it's easy to miss a potential dark horse. Classic Clues, our new series running every morning, has you covered.

Here's a recap of Thursday's action and how it impacted the Classic betting.

Racing round-up: Drama delivers in Dee

Derby entry El Drama was cut to 25-1 (from 80) with bet365 and as short as 16-1 (from 66) with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook after landing the Dee Stakes at Chester.

The Roger Varian-trained colt produced a big career best on his first start over 1m2½f, but jockey Andrea Atzeni suggested in his post-race interview that this distance might be his limit at this stage.

Varian hinted at the Prix du Jockey Club being a viable alternative for the talented Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned three-year-old.

Away from the action on the track, there was plenty of movement at the head of the Derby market with Bolshoi Ballet replacing stablemate High Definition as favourite at 5-1 (from 8) with Paddy Power.

High Definition was not declared for Lingfield's Derby trial after an unsatisfactory blood count during the week and has drifted to 7-1 (from 9-2) for the Classic. Aidan O'Brien instead runs Kyprios and Carlisle Bay at the Surrey track.

Mohaafeth, an impressive winner at Newmarket last week, was shortened to 6-1 second-favourite (from 8) with bet365.

Results, replays and analysis

Market movers

Cazoo Derby

Bolshoi Ballet 5-1 (from 8), Paddy Power
Mohaafeth 6-1 (from 8), bet365
High Definition 7-1 (from 9-2), Paddy Power
El Drama 25-1 (from 80), bet365

Cazoo Oaks

Teona 8-1 (from 10), bet365
Zeyaadah 8-1 (from 10), bet365

What they said

Andrea Atzeni, jockey of El Drama
He showed a lot of ability as a two-year-old and we were treating him as a Guineas horse. We had to get a couple of runs into him to get some experience and he ran well, but we knew he'd be a better horse on the grass. He's bred to stay and there were solid horses in the race. At the moment a mile and a quarter is as far as he'd want to go, but that's not for me to decide.

Roger Varian, trainer of El Drama
We thought he'd stay ten [furlongs] well and be a better horse back on grass, and we were delighted to see him do what we've always thought he was capable of. It was nice to see him reignite his reputation and his campaign. If he did run in the Derby there would be a question mark whether he'd get a truly run mile and a half. You wouldn't know until you tried it, but he's not short of pace and ten furlongs might be his best trip for now. Having spoken to Sheikh Obaid, all options are open and he'd like him to be considered for the Prix du Jockey Club.

Today's racing: Derby entrants clash

There are unlikely to be many Classic clues on Friday, but three big-priced Cazoo Derby entries clash in the concluding 1m2f maiden (7.40) at Cork.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained HMS Seahorse has failed to win in four starts, most recently in a handicap at Naas, and is a 150-1 shot for the Derby with bet365, while Mcpherson, trained by Jessica Harrington, is a general 100-1 chance for the Classic.

He has a more interesting profile, having finished a close fourth behind leading Derby contender High Definition at the Curragh on his debut before placing second at Gowran Park. He makes his seasonal reappearance.

Rekero makes his debut in this event for Joseph O'Brien and is a general 100-1 outsider for the Derby. He was a 725,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls Book 1 sale in 2019 and is a full brother to dual Group 2 winner One Foot In Heaven.

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If you want more of the day's top stories . . .

El Drama as short as 16-1 for Derby after Dee Stakes win

Fallon to give up York rides to partner The Lir Jet in French 2,000 Guineas

2021 Chester Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict

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