Epsom Derby 2022: Leading Derby contender Reach For The Moon ruled out of Classic

John Gosden has been forced to rule Reach For The Moon out of next month's Derby, as the legendary handler has admitted defeat on trying to get Her Majesty The Queen's colt ready for the Classic showpiece, which will take place at Epsom Downs on June 3...

A mightily-impressive winner of the Group 3 Solario Stakes last season, the son of Sea The Stars was last seen finishing second to Bayside Boy in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, and he was expected to be a leading Derby player this season, and had been a best-priced 8/1 shot for next month's Derby.

However, having picked up an injury in the autumn, Gosden has had to alter his plans as having originally planned a season opener in the Dante Stakes at York before heading to the Derby, Gosden has admitted that he has not had enough time to the exciting three-year-old ready for Epsom, and he will now be targeted at Royal Ascot instead.

This will have a notable effect on the latest Derby betting for which the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg is a red-hot 5/2 favourite for after he ran a fine race to finish third in Saturday's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but there are sure to be a host of classy colts staking their claim in notable trials in the coming weeks.

Charlie Appleby's New London is now as short as 9/2 and 5/1 for the Derby after he impressed at Newmarket last month, and the Godolphin raider will head to Chester on Wednesday afternoon to contest the Chester Vase, and a win in that Group 3 event could see him shorten even further in the betting. A short-odds-on favourite for the event on the Roodee tomorrow, New London is looking to continue the fine form of Appleby, who saddled Coroebus to Guineas glory at the weekend, and that star is currently a best-priced 20/1 for the Derby.

Appleby could have a strong hand in this year's Derby as he looks to retain the crown he won with Adayar 12 months ago, and Walk Of Stars is as short as 10/1 for the Derby, while other eye-catching figures towards the head of the betting include the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Piz Badile, who is 16/1, while 2000 Guineas runner-up Native Trail is available at 20/1.

Reach For The Moon was set to be The Queen's premier challenger for the Derby, so there will be huge disappointment with the imminent scratching of the smart son of Sea The Stars, but Her Majesty does still have Educator (40/1) and General Idea (66/1) entered for the race, but both of those are relatively unfancied in a market that is sure to take shape over the next few weeks.