Weekend Review: Bookies delighted with shock Epsom Derby result

Bookmakers rejoiced on Saturday as unfancied 25/1-shot Serpentine swept to victory in the Derby at Epsom, ahead of outsiders Khalifa Sat at 50/1 Amhran Na Bhfiann at 66/1. The stunning result meant the tricast would have paid a whopping £55,977 for a pound stake.

Serpentine, one of six runners in the Classic race for trainer Aidan O’Brien, was allowed to gallop home unchallenged from halfway in what was a peculiar race, with pre-race favourite Kameko (5/2) finishing fourth and second favourite English King only managing fifth.

Betway’s Chad Yeomans said this edition was one of the most successful the operator had recorded from the Derby in recent years.

Yeomans added: “With Serpentine’s 25/1 victory in the Derby coming as a surprise to most, it also came with a smile from our trading floor as it was largely unbacked by the Betway punters.

“The second and third placed horses returned at 50/1 and 66/1 respectively, which meant it was one of the better returns we’ve had from the Epsom classic,” he continued.

Serpentine and Emmet McNamara pull off a shock at @EpsomRacecourse to give Aidan O'Brien a record-breaking eighth Derby win! 😲 pic.twitter.com/G4qvC4tZt8

— Epsom Downs Racecourse (@EpsomRacecourse) July 4, 2020

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill noted the Derby produced a “very layer-friendly outcome” amid a high level of interest in the event following the coronavirus-enforced shutdown, as 2.3 million viewers tuned in on ITV.

Gill said: “Some fantastic racing over the weekend as we had the Derby, the Oaks and the Eclipse running. The top of the Derby market was extremely active on the day as expected, but in the end it didn’t matter as 25/1 shot Serpentine led home a 50/1 shot and a 66/1 shot.”

In the Oaks, race favourite Love (11/10) broke Enable’s record time to win by nine lengths ahead of Ennistymon. Gill said punters “walked away smiling” from the race, while Yeomans claimed Love’s victory was not “damaging” in the grand scheme of things.

Betfred’s Alan Firkins told EGR that following some positive mid-week results in the Premier League, Love’s win provided a sting in the tail to the bookmaker.

Firkins added: “We went into the weekend on a high after a great City/Liverpool result for us – but Love soon brought us back down to earth with her brilliant and authoritative Oaks win.”

Elsewhere at Sandown Park in the Eclipse, Ghaiyyath romped home to a victory over last year’s winner and race favourite Enable, with Gill adding: “Enable was beaten in the Eclipse in another one that went our way.”

In the Premier League, Southampton’s surprise 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday bust plenty of accumulators.

The awareness 👀
The swerve 💫
The audacity 🤩

Simply stunning from @CheAdams_: pic.twitter.com/mN8rZBs5y1

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 5, 2020

Gill said: “Southampton shocked Manchester City to win 1-0, a result which saw us ahead in almost every market going on that game. Across the league we came out ahead in five games and four went to the punters.”

Yeomans added: “Saturday saw four winning favourites out of five Premier League games but lots of accumulators and multiples were toppled when odds-on favourites Manchester City lost away at Southampton, which was one of the surprises of the weekend.”

Finally, Firkins pointed towards a form of normality slowly etching its way back, citing “very encouraging turnover” during the week and through the weekend, with the Premier League and top-tier racing having proved a “big hit” with punters.