Massive Gambling will shine or flop in York this week as the market is volatile following Luxembourg exclusion

IT’S crunch time for the massive Epsom Derby gambling game Desert Crown.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt was the subject of a huge slump in betting for the June 4 Classic.

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The undefeated three-year-old was on a 33-1 shot just over a week ago, but he’s now down to 11-2 at the bookies.

And his derby credentials will be put to the test on Thursday when he runs in the Dante Stakes in York.

This race is considered one of the most important derby tests, with previous winners such as Golden Horn, Authorized and motivator Follow-up at Epsom in recent years.

And with the longtime derby favourite Luxembourg ruled out of the race due to injury, the race looks wide open.

Markets have been volatile since news of Luxembourg’s setback broke.

A good – or bad – performance on the track can cause a huge betting shake-up.

That was the case on Sunday stone age cut in 5-2 favor from 12-1 after winning the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

But Desert Crown, who won his only start at Nottingham in November, is yet to race this season and could well move to the top of derby bets if he sacks the Dante at York.

If it flops, the players who took part in the huge gamble will be tearing their hair out.

Bruce Raymond, race director for Desert Crown owner Saeed Suhail, told the Racing Post: “The plan is to run it on Thursday. He works very well.

“Sir Michael is bringing him up little by little. You probably wouldn’t have thought of a derby a month ago, but now it’s starting to hit the right note.

“Our horse will stay very good and whatever he does in Dante he will improve a lot for that.

“I wouldn’t worry about him being beaten in the Dante because it’s his first run of the season and Sir Michaels isn’t out of breath yet.

“He’ll be a decent horse – I don’t know if he’s suitable for the Derby – but he’ll be a good horse later on.”

Coral’s David Stevens added: “Desert Crown has been the subject of a positive bulletin from connections and will get his own chance to test his credentials in this week’s Dante.

“A clear win at York would certainly make him prefer the Epsom Classic.”

Desert Crown meets another derby dark horse in Dante in the form of teaching positionridden by Frankie Dettori plus Aidan O’Brien Point Lonsdale.

The three-day Dante Festival begins on Wednesday when Emily Upjohn will try to book her ticket for the oak trees in Musidora Stakes.

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