ante-post

Racing and Football Outlook tipster Nick Watts, who has selected three of the last six winners of the big race in his ante-post preview, was contacted by a particularly grateful punter after he had recommended Don't Push It in the paper last February.

Tattenham Corner

Nicknamed 'Pegasus' at home, the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Saamidd shot to the head of the ante-post markets on the 2000 Guineas when winning the Champagne Stakes in great style at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.

Talking Horses

Bensalem, the ante-post favourite for the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase on the first day of the Festival, shares his name with a township in Pennsylvania, home to another racecourse – Philadelphia Park.

Cleeve Hill

Aimigayle is the best-backed horse in the ante-post market and her price has steadily dropped in recent days but this talented and ultra-tough mare should still give backers a good run for their money.

Talking Horses | Our daily horse racing blog

The Aidan O'Brien squad have dominated the trials but the market has been completely skewed by the will-he, wont-he run story involving long-time ante-post favourite St Nicholas Abbey which was ended this morning when he was taken out of the race because of a muscle injury.

Talking Horses

Brien could run Jan Vermeer, Midas Touch and At First Sight• Injury to long-time favourite could cost ante-post punters £3m

Cape Blanco to join St Nicholas Abbey in missing the Derby

With third-placed Denis Menchov 50/1 in the outright market, this column's ante-post positions are looking in very good shape having backed Mr. Schleck in the 'without Contador' market at 9/4 and bought his outright index with Sporting Index at 18.

Tip of the day

Strong Suit, who had previously held top spot in the ante-post betting for the 2,000 Guineas, is out to 10-1 (from 5s) with William Hill.

Talking Horses

There have been few ante-post setbacks to match it in recent seasons, and victory for the new O'Brien-trained favourite, Jan Vermeer, would be a relative "skinner" for the layers in ante-post terms as he was barely on the punters 'radar until his win in the Gallinule Stakes 10 days ago.

Cape Blanco to join St Nicholas Abbey in missing the Derby

The colt was the long-time ante-post favourite for the premier Classic, but failed to impress jockey Johnny Murtagh in a work-out last Friday since when there has been intense speculation about his chances of lining up at Epsom.

Talking Horses