Favourite ruled out of Derby

Yeats, who had been favourite for the Vodafone Derby on Saturday, appeared to have suffered a minor setback last weekend. However, the colt was back doing routine work early last week, and although trainer Aidan O’Brien had maintained a cautious attitude to Yeats’ chances of running in the Premier Classic, it had seemed that he was back on track.

However, the minor muscle problem that the three-year-old suffered ten days ago has continued to niggle, and a decision was made this morning not to run him in the Derby, but to give him a complete rest. Yeats had followed a classic road taken by various recent Derby winners, and his absence from the great race will be a huge disappointment to many, including punters who stand to lose up to £1 million, according to some bookmakers.

Snow Ridge, the chosen ride of Frankie Dettori (pictured) is likely to start favourite following Yeats’ defection. The Godolphin colt is as low as 2-1 with several bookmakers, and both owners and jockey will be pleased to have shortened the odds of finally claiming a title which has eluded them all for so long.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained North Light is close behind, although the Danehill colt was in isolation at the end of last week to fend off a bug that has affected several Newmarket yards.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now