Sponsors William Hill have installed the 2013 Classic winner Pinpoint Maxi as the favourite at 9-2 to take this year’s renewal, which starts at Sunderland on Saturday.
The dog went through the competition unbeaten two years ago before breaking a hock in a trial at Monmore, and returned last year to finish fourth in the Classic behind Mileheight Alba and then runner-up in the All England Cup.
He has only had one race this year when fourth to Viking Jack in a Derby Trial Stakes and has had just one trial since that – a 15.53 over the 261 metres earlier this week – and trainer Kelly Macari has expressed fears that the competition may have come too soon for her champion.
Kennelmate Conna Trigger is second favourite on 6-1 with last year’s Derby third, the Irish raider Crokers Champ, on offer at 13-2, while last year’s Classic winner Mileheight Alba is priced at 20-1.
Paul Young, who won the 2012 Grand Prix with Swabys Princess, is responsible for this year’s favourite Bubbly Gold, the runner-up to Farley Rio last year, who has been chalked up at 7-1.
Kennelmate Teejays Panther is one of three joint second favourites on offer at 8-1, the other two – Magical Reid and Airmount Paco – coming from Jimmy Wrights’s kennel, who have taken the prize twice in the past.
