Racing: Tapit now the 5-1 favourite for Kentucky

Michael Dickinson's Tapit has been promoted to 5-1 favourite from 20-1 by Coral for the Kentucky Derby on 1 May after his success in Saturday's Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct.

Michael Dickinson's Tapit has been promoted to 5-1 favourite from 20-1 by Coral for the Kentucky Derby on 1 May after his success in Saturday's Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct.

The grey, a disappointing sixth in last month's Florida Derby, showed himself to be a live Kentucky contender with his half-length win in Saturday's Grade One event. "Believe me, I am as surprised as anyone," said the former top British jumps trainer. "He came out of Florida with a fairly significant lung infection. He only recovered a few days ago and he was not in peak health or in great condition. He is going to improve."

Coral also cut The Cliff's Edge to 6-1 from 14-1 after he won the Blue Grass Stakes at Lexington, while Smarty Jones is 8-1 from 14-1 after keeping his unbeaten record intact in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

KENTUCKY DERBY BETTING Coral: 5-1 Tapit, 6-1 The Cliff's Edge, 8-1 Smarty Jones, 10-1 Rock Hard Ten, Lion Heart, 12-1 Master David, Imperialism, Castledale, 14-1 Eddington, 16-1 Birdstone, Borrego, 20-1 Friends Lake, Minister Eric, 25-1 and upwards others.