Horse Racing season is in full effect, with races scheduled until the new year. There are several races to be watched and wagered upon, like Coral Hurdle and Tingle Creek to round out 2020.
As the calendar flips to 2021 and we restart with a full year of races, one of the most talked-about races is the Epsom Derby. Headlining the month of June, horse racing fans flock to television screens and Surrey, England to watch the best competitive horse racing at the highest level.
The most prestigious and richest race in Britain, every jockey has this race circled on their calendar. Known as the Greatest Flat Race in the World, The Derby crowns winners of the highest honor at Epsom Downs.
One of the biggest entertainment factors in horse racing is the photo finish. Usually, races are tight and the tension rises until the last leap of faith to cross the finish line first. With no room for error on the track, Epsom Downs has seen some astonishing finishes over the years.
2020 was the perfect example of a Derby like no other. The result was one for the history books. Serpentine was crowned the winner after escaping the group early, defeating some of the best horses in the sport in an unbelievable victory. Serpentine’s Epsom Downs win came a week after its first-ever win as a racehorse, so it’s understandable why analysts and experts didn’t think this racehorse could finish first.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Serpentine’s victory was shocking for even the most experienced horse racing bettors and horse racing experts.
Now with the attention turned to 2021, we have seen bookmakers release odds for the Epsom Derby next year. High Definition is listed at +700 to win in 2021. Betway Sports (as of November 19th) has several horses listed at +1600, like Battleground, Mac Swiney, Van Gogh and Wembley.
2020 taught us that the favorites are no guarantee. This means horses like Etonian (+2800), Lone Eagle (+3300) and Brazil (+5000) could stand tall at Epsom Downs.
High Definition is an interesting horse and is well respected in the horse racing world. With two wins in two appearances in 2020, High Definition is one of the most talked-about horses in the sport today.
The 2-year-old colt has impressed in his two appearances so far. What makes High Definition one to watch is his trainer: Aidan O’Brien.
As a trainer, O’Brien has 8 Derby wins, surpassing Robert Robson (7) for most wins at Epsom Downs. O’Brien is one of the most well-known trainers of racehorses in the United Kingdom and Ireland and has celebrated success in France, as well as the United States.
Since 2012, only three winners have not been trained by O’Brien. 2015, 2016 and 2018 were outliers as O’Brien and his horses have dominated the 2010’s. Entering a new decade, O’Brien looks to maintain his dominance at the Derby, with High Definition.
O’Brien has many horses ready to participate in the Derby, with great odds. The aforementioned Battleground is also trained by O’Brien. In the group, Mac Swiney and Wembley are two other horses trained by O’Brien that have exceptional odds to win the Derby.
It takes two to tango but that’s what makes O’Brien such a great trainer. His ability to lead the best horses in the business to victory has not been rivaled in the 2010s. It will be interesting to see if any trainer can usurp O’Brien as the top trainer in Ireland and U.K.
Focusing back on High Definition, the young Colt has proven profitable for bettors throughout his journey. If you had backed High Definition throughout its career, you’d have achieved a 445% return of investment. High Definition is cut above the rest in his early career and the 2021 Derby will be another stepping stone for him.
The Derby produces drama like no other. We’ve seen in past events that anything can happen, even controversial endings. O’Brien’s history at the Derby gives any horse trained by him a shot at winning. The amount of talent O’Brien and his crew produces is unmatched, especially at Epsom Downs.
It will be interesting to see if the odds change over the coming months. We’re still months away from the 2021 edition of the Derby, but any horse trained by O’Brien should be watched by bettors. O’Brien has turned Epsom Downs into his little facility of success rarely seen at the highest level.
Taking down O’Brien and his trained horses is not impossible, but unlikely at Epsom Downs. But then again, anything can happen on the track.
