King Of Kings may take chance in Epsom Derby

Irish bookmakers, Paddy Powers, have made the 2,000 Guineas winner, King Of Kings, their new 7 to 1 favourite to win the Epsom Derby.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt is still regarded as only a possible for the Derby but with Gulland failing to impress at Chester yesterday, the market for Epsom is far from settled.

Powers make Haami and Border Arrow their joint second favourites at 10 to 1 but that is the price that Sean Grahams go about King Of Kings with Border Arrow their favourite at 5 to 1.

"We got the idea after the Guineas that King Of Kings wouldn't take up the Derby option but the more we hear it looks like he is going to go that way," said Brian Graham yesterday.

O'Brien insists that the Irish 2,000 Guineas is the most likely option for King Of Kings next run but significantly adds that the two weeks between the Curragh and Epsom is long enough to allow the colt to run in both if necessary.

Whether King Of Kings will take up that dual option will largely depend on the recovery rate of the former Derby favourite Second Empire who sustained a muscle injury last Friday. That injury has now been dismissed as a "slight strain" which could allow Second Empire the chance to run at Epsom after all.

If he doesn't make it, however, and his Guineas winning stable companion takes his place, it will be a fascinating to see how far King Of Kings' stamina will last. Being by Sadlers Wells, his paternal line looks up to the task but it's less certain on his dam's side.

"I think it must be good odds against King of Kings staying a mile and a half on pedigree but then he is an individual, not a pedigree," said breeding expert and writer Tony Morris yesterday.

Morris added: "The dam (Zummerudd) has very much a sprinting background and it's doubtful if King Of Kings will be as good over a mile and a half as he is over a mile. But then we have been wrong before and he won a not below par Guineas very well."

The 122 rating handed out to King Of Kings for Saturday's Guineas defeat of Lend A Hand and Border Arrow has been described in some quarters as a snub, with comparisons drawn to the 124 rating given to Entrepreneur after he won the 1997 Guineas.

The Irish handicapper Ciaran Kennelly, who arrived at King Of Kings rating after consulting with his English counterpart, admitted to being disappointed with the "snub" headlines that followed their decision.

"Handicappers don't set out to snub anybody. He was given the rating on the basis of the horses he beat on that particular day," Kennelly said yesterday. "We never try to compare with last year's winner or any other winner. It may be that King Of Kings is much better than 122 but he hasn't shown it on the racecourse yet and that is what we have to go on. It's far too early to make assumptions as we're only in the first week and the season goes on until November."

Betting: (Sean Graham Derby Prices) - 5 Border Arrow, 9 Haami, 10 King Of Kings, 12 Greek Dance, Xaar, 14 City Honours, Gulland, 16 Capri, 20 Dr Fong, Fleetwood, Mutamam, 25 Central Park, Mudeer, Rabi, Saratoga Springs, Teapot Row, The Glow Worm, Twickenham, 33 Bar.