Ante-post wagering is a critical part of the British wagering framework. New Approach, from Irish trainer Jim Bolger’s yard, went through his freshman season without tasting defeat. It was five for five and Sheikh Mohamed was so impressed that he bought New Approach for his wife, Princess Haya. Ownership changed but the colt was allowed to continue in Bolger’s care.

During the winter, a large portion of the ante-post money was bet on New Approach at a general 3-1. Back in April, Jim Bolger withdrew his star trainee from the Derby entry list. In his first start as a sophomore, New Approach was touched off by Aidan O’Brien’s Henrythenavigator in the English 2000 Guineas. The latter confirmed his superiority in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh and it was a decisive win.

When announcing that the Derby was not on New Approach’s schedule, Jim Bolger said that leaving his colt in the Derby list was an ‘oversight’. The bookmakers took New Approach out of the wagering menu. Dermot Weld’s Casual Conquest became the market torchbearer. New Approach is back in the Derby picture now.

One would think that it is a simple matter of a trainer changing his mind. In British racing, it is a big deal and there is no dearth of finger-pointing and criticism of Bolger’s change of heart is mounting.

If you made an ante-post bet on New Approach and threw the ticket away when it was (officially) announced that your pick would not be in the Derby, do you have a remedy? I do not think so. Yes, it is the trainer’s prerogative to act in the best interests of his horses and owners but there is a higher responsibility, however tenuous it may be, to the racing fraternity at large. Especially in Britain, the way the betting system is structured, a trainer’s vacillations have an immense impact on the punters.

Coral’s David Stephens made a terse statement. “Mr Bolger’s actions do nothing to maintain punters’ faith in betting on racing.”

Some British racing writers have gone to the extent of saying that trainer Bolger has betrayed the cause of racing. Here is my take: it is perhaps ten cents worth on the subject. If a punter goes for an ante-post bet, he accepts the risks that go with the wager. Does a trainer’s obligation to the betting public trump his commitment to his owner? There is no easy answer. This debate may not end when we know the Derby winner on Saturday.

Sheikh Mohamed’s Rio De La Plata is the only Godolphin runner in the Derby. It is believed that Rio De La Plata’s chances are minimal. It is, therefore, in the Sheikh’s interests to let his wife’s horse go in the Derby. It is a matter of fact decision but one that is cooking up a wicked brew.

Jim Bolger explained his situation this way. “New Approach came out of the Irish 2000 very well. He was getting a bit above himself. We are in a no win situation. We were in trouble for not going; now we’re in trouble for going. New Approach will run only if the ground is good or easier.”

At the moment, you can get 5-1 and may be 6-1 on New Approach. I am sure punters are desperately looking for those betting slips.

There are 18 entries in the Derby. Defections are unlikely. The Derby will be run at 4 PM London time on Saturday. It will be 8.30 PM in India.

On Friday, there are two Group I events. The Coronation Cup for older horses over 2,400 metres will be run. The Oaks, a 2400-metre test for three year-old fillies, is Friday’s feature.

On Wednesday, the field for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes will be announced. Big Brown worked on Tuesday. He did 1,000 metres in 1.00 and completed 1,200 metres in 1 14.25.

Richard Dutrow, Jr was pleased. “I expected him to do good. I was hoping that he would get the time he got. We are as happy as we can be. There are not any issues, so I was expecting to see what I saw.”

The quarter crack is sutured and Big Brown worked without a patch. Dutrow said that seepage, if any, in the affected area will drain quickly and that there was no blood in the area. A patch will be put on the crack on Friday.

Casino Drive and his stablemates, Spark Candle and Champagne Squall, are going through their unwavering routine. They walk for 45 minutes, then go on to the track and return for another 30-minute walk.

Spark Candle will not act as Casino Drive’s pace-setter. The Hill Prince Stakes on June 6 is Spark Candle’s objective.

Casino Drive’s trainer, Mr Tada, spoke about Casino Drive’s versatility. “He needs no pacemaker. He is multi-dimensional. No pace and he can go. There’s pace and he can settle.”

There was rain for an extended period in London on Tuesday. In parts of England, there is heavy rain. It is a repeat of last year’s weather. Some rain is forecast on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, the sun will be out with a high of 20 degrees Centigrade. On Saturday, Derby day, it will again be sunny with a high of 20 C.

There were three flat meetings in England on Tuesday. Ripon and Southwell (an all weather track) raced in the afternoon. Folkestone had a six-race card that began at 6.20 PM and ended at 8.50 PM. Sedgefield, a jump track, raced a twilight program.

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