Weekend Review: Heavily backed outsider lands Derby as England edge past Romania

A shock winner in the Epsom Derby on Saturday left the layers in clover as pre-race favourite Bolshoi Ballet failed to perform on the big stage, finishing seventh.

Adayar, which was backed from 40/1 in to 16/1, secured the victory by four and a half lengths with Adam Kirby onboard, ahead of 50-1 outsider Mojo Star.

Kirby was replaced by Frankie Dettori on his original horse, John Leeper, before taking up the reins of Charlie Appleby-trained Adayar.

Adayar wins the @CazooUK Derby!

Jockey Adam Kirby was jocked off the fancied John Leeper earlier in the week – he's just secured his first Classic success in quite a story at @EpsomRacecourse 👏 pic.twitter.com/FqpKzIzavQ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2021

Speaking to EGR, Betfred’s Alan Firkins lavished praise on Kirby and his Epsom winning horse.

Firkins said: “Everyone here I’ve spoken to was absolutely chuffed for Adam Kirby – what a cool, brave, and quite brilliant ride he gave Epsom Derby hero Adayar. His record for trainer Charlie Appleby is unreal – over 100 winners, at a strike-rate of around 30%.

“Fred pushed Bolshoi Ballet out to 7/4 for a spell on Saturday morning, so we dodged one – and it was a great result, despite the winner attracting sustained late support from 40s in to his 16/1 SP,” he added.

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “At Epsom, having opened at 40/1, Adayar took the glory in The Derby at 16/1 under an impressive ride from Adam Kirby. Unsurprisingly he was largely left alone by punters and the race topped a very layer-friendly day on the Downs.”

Elsewhere, international football began to ramp up towards the start of Euro 2020 with a host of friendlies played out in front of returning crowds.

💯 goals for club and country.

Congratulations, @MarcusRashford! pic.twitter.com/ZpDKkyLt6r

— England (@England) June 6, 2021

England edged past Romania on Sunday with a 1-0 win thanks to a Marcus Rashford penalty at Middlesbrough before Jordan Henderson fluffed his chance to score his first international goal, also from the penalty spot.

It was the Three Lions’ final warm-up game before their Euro 2020 opener against Croatia on Sunday, although the squad looks far from settled due to injury concerns over key players and the late arrival of Chelsea and Manchester City stars following their Champions League final clash.

Gill said: “Quiet weekend on the football front as pre-tournament friendlies, never the most exciting of betting propositions, took centre stage. England managed another unconvincing win with a lot of first 11 players missing, and the low scoring result meant we managed to stay ahead of the punters.”

There was drama in the golf this weekend after Jon Rahm was forced to withdraw from the Memorial after testing positive for Covi-19. The Spaniard held a six-shot lead after three rounds when he was told on live TV that he had to pull out. One punter shared his unfortunate position on Betfair Exchange after backing Rahn for the win.

Rahm being told he’s tested positive for Covid moments after walking off the 18th green with a six-shot lead thru 54 holes is definitely in the top 3 shaftings I’ve had dished out in my punting career.

What is betting? What is life. pic.twitter.com/WhFm8L5rdN

— Malachy Rooney (@RooneyMal) June 5, 2021

Finally, in F1, Mexican Sergio Pérez secured a first-place finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after stand-out stars Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen crashed out in Baku.

Gill said: “Both Hamilton and Verstappen crashing out of the race at Baku on Sunday also left a healthy-looking result in the book in what was a race that saw plenty of interest from punters.”