Colin Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane is 2/5 favourite to regain the Irish Flat Jockeys Championship, while Oisin Murphy is also odds-on to retain his UK title.
The Irish title race has been parked for an unknown period following the opening day of the Flat turf season at Naas due to government COVID-19 restrictions, while the UK could also be without any racing action for some time due to coronavirus.
Keane was the champion in 2017 before filling the runner-up spot behind the now retired Donnacha O’Brien for the past two seasons, and Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair all make him a 2/5 shot to take the title for the second time.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said, “Donnacha O’Brien had too much firepower for Colin Keane the last two seasons, but his retirement could ease the path to a second title for the latter.
“However, Shane Foley could give him a good run for his money as his main patron Jessica Harrington’s Flat string seems to be improving every year and she had some high-class juveniles who should enjoy a fine Classic year.”
Paddy Power and Betfair bet: 2/5 Colin Keane, 5 Shane Foley, 8 Declan McDonogh, 10 Chris Hayes, Seamie Heffernan, 20 Billy Lee, Wayne Lordan, 25 Ryan Moore, 33 Shane Crosse, Ronan Whelan, 50 Oisin Orr, 100 Gary Carroll, Kevin Manning.
Betfair's Head of Racing PR Barry Orr reports support for a former champion saying, "Declan McDonagh is the hottest jockey to win the title and is 8/1 from 20/1. It looks like he may get the lion’s share of quality rides from Joseph O’Brien’s yard and that is reflected in the support we have seen for him.
"We have also seen money for Chris Hayes who is 10/1 from 16/1."
Oisin Murphy landed his first UK Flat Jockeys’ Championship in decisive fashion last year with his tally of 168 winners leaving him 35 clear of Danny Tudhope.
Murphy is 4/7 to retain the title with Paddy Power and Betfair with former champion Silvestre De Sousa next at 9/2 followed by rising star Tom Marquand at 5/1 and Tudhope next at 7/1.
Paddy Power and Betfair bet: 4/7 Oisin Murphy, 9/2 Silvestre De Sousa, 5 Tom Marquand, 7 Danny Tudhope, 16 Ben Curtis, 25 Jim Crowley, Hollie Doyle, 33 Andrea Atzeni, William Buick, PJ McDonald, James Doyle, Jason Watson, 40 Cieren Fallon, 100 Sean Davis, Frankie Dettori, David Egan Paul Hanagan, Adam Kirby, Ryan Moore, Luke Morris.
“Silvestre De Sousa will be smarting that young pretender Oisin Murphy denied him a hat-trick of titles, but he might just have a job wrestling it back as the list of handlers that the latter rode winners for reads like a who’s who of the UK training ranks,” said Binfield.
He added, “We’ve had to cut Tom (Marquand, from 16/1) after he did so very well Down Under. He rode his first Group 1 winner there on Addeybb and on the very same day struck in a Group 3 on Young Rascal and his talents are likely to be used by not only William Haggas and Richard Hughes now but many other trainers as well.”
Barry Orr also confirms the support for Marquand with Betfair saying, "While Oisin Murphy is odds-on at 4/7 all the recent money has been for Tom Marquand who is now 5/1 having been 16/1. His recent exploits in Australia mark him down as the one punters want to be with and he’s sure to get plenty of support among the top trainers.
"Hollie Doyle has also been very popular and has a good spread of trainers who call on her services most notably Archie Watson. She’s a significant loser in the book and is now from 25/1 from 50/1."
Paddy Power and Betfair have also priced up the top first season sire:
5/2 Mehmas, 5 Territories, 7 Pride Of Dubai, Vadamos, 8 Twilight Son, 10 Awtaad, Estidhkaar, 12 Adaay, Buratino, The Gurkha, 14 Belado, 20 Shalaa, 25 Bobbys Kitten, Kodi Bear, 33 Prince Of Lir, 50 Coulsty, Markaz, 66 Charming Thought, New Bay, 100 Fascinating Rock, Harzand, Pearl Secret, The Last Lion.
Binfield commented, “This market is always a bit of guesswork, but Mehmas heads the market with obvious credentials being a high-class juvenile with a victory over Blue Point in Goodwood’s Richmond Stakes.
“Perhaps Twilight Son is interesting considering he won a Haydock Sprint Cup and a Diamond Jubilee Stakes.”
