John Leeper leaps up Derby betting as French Classics take centre stage

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 Saturday's action and how it impacted the Classic betting.

Racing round-up: John Leeper enhances Derby claims

The highly regarded John Leeper continued his rapid rise through the ranks and boosted his Cazoo Derby chances with an impressive victory in the Fairway Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

He is a son of 2010 Oaks winner and superstar mare Snow Fairy and looked every inch a top-class performer with a length and three-quarter victory in the 1m2f Listed contest under William Buick.

Bookmakers were understandably impressed with his performance and he was cut to 7-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook (from 16). Trainer Ed Dunlop also confirmed that John Leeper – named after his late father John – will be heading for the Epsom Classic on June 5 next.

Trainer Sir Mark Todd indicated that the second, Tasman Bay, will also head to Epsom and is a general 66-1 chance for the Derby.

In Ireland, Sir Lucan added his name to the potentially powerful Aidan O'Brien team for the Derby when narrowly defeating more-fancied stablemate Wordsworth in the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan.

Sir Lucan (middle) gets the better of WordsworthCredit: Patrick McCann

The neck victory saw his odds cut to 20-1 (from 50) by Paddy Power for the race, while Wordsworth drifted out to a general 25-1 for the Classic following his odds-on defeat in the 1m5f contest. Sir Lucan was also trimmed into 14-1 (from 25) for the St Leger by bet365, while Wordsworth remains at that price with the same firm for the final Classic of the season.

Eshaada sprung an 18-1 surprise in the Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial at Newbury, but will need to be supplemented for the Cazoo Oaks and could have the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on her agenda instead.

The same principle applies if Bay Bridge was to head towards the Derby following his success in the London Gold Cup. He has a Royal Ascot entry in the King Edward VII Stakes.

What they said

Ed Dunlop, trainer of John Leeper
That was a bit of a different test for John Leeper as he's immature and that was his first proper race, but he handled it very well. He's all about the future and will only get better I'm sure. I think the owner will want to head to Epsom where I doubt William [Buick, jockey] will be able to ride him, but I'm sure we'll find someone.

Wayne Lordan, winning rider on Sir Lucan
He had a very good run to finish fourth in the Beresford Stakes last year and he was always going to come forward for a step up in trip. We went a good even gallop, he travelled and quickened and he stays well. He hit the line good.

Seamie Heffernan, rider of Wordsworth
Disappointed, that's the only word I can use to describe it. We went on and made it a decent gallop to see what did and didn't stay. The ease in the ground suited the other horse more than mine, but he was still disappointing.

Market Movers

Cazoo Derby

John Leeper 7-1 (from 16), Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook
Sir Lucan 20-1 (from 50), Paddy Power
Wordsworth 25-1 (from 16), bet365

St Leger

Sir Lucan 14-1 (from 25), bet365

Today's racing: Guineas winners bid for more Classic glory

Poetic Flare and Mother Earth already recorded Classic victories following successes in the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier in the month and both bid for unique doubles in the French equivalents at Longchamp.

The Jim Bolger-trained Poetic Flare heads 12 runners for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (2.50) and will be ridden again by Kevin Manning, while the Christophe Soumillon-ridden Mother Earth bids to become the first English-French Guineas heroine since Special Duty in 2010 and is among 14 runners in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (3.25).

St Mark's Basillica: heads to FranceCredit: Alan Crowhurst

St Mark's Basilica also contests the Poulains and it may provide more French Clues instead as he currently heads the market at a general 5-1 chance for the Prix du Jockey Club. The unbeaten Philomene, current 9-2 favourite for the Prix de Diane, is an intriguing contender in the Pouliches too.

In Ireland, Frill – a 66-1 chance for the Cazoo Oaks – bids to get off the mark at the fourth time of asking in the mile fillies maiden (1.40) at Naas having been well beaten in her first three starts.

Read our Saturday reports . . .

Whoosh! Dettori reaching for superlatives as Palace Pier powers home

Lee Mottershead: 'I love him so much' – star miler delivers for star jockey Dettori in Lockinge (Members' Club)

'Talented' Al Aasy has William Haggas purring as trainer eyes big targets

Impressive John Leeper 7-1 for Derby as Buick dominates with 92-1 four-timer

40-1 into 100-30 in ten minutes – extraordinary gamble landed at Thirsk

New Sky Bet customers can get £20 in free bets when they place a £5 bet. First single & EW bet only. Odds of 1-1 or greater. 2x £/10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Full T&Cs here. 18+.