SHAAMIT was the best backed horse in Ladbroke's Derby list on the day when Lester Piggott threw his support behind the colt - the firm reacted to continued support for the William Haggas-trained colt and clipped him to 9 to 1 from 10s.
Piggott, on hand to open the Piggott Gates at Epsom yesterday afternoon, revealed his greatest wish would be to watch Shaamit, trained by his son-in-law William Haggas, land the Classic.
"It would be like riding a 10th Derby winner if he won," he said.
Ladbrokes also reported "nibbles" for Chief Commander at 40 to 1 and sliced his price to 28 to 1 who adjusted their book by easing Dr Massini from 45 to 9 to 2 and St Mawes to 20 to 1 from 16s.
Meanwhile Coral reported a bet of £2,000 each way on Jack Jennings at 33 to 1.
Away from betting moves, trainer Mark Tompkins and his team, momentarily rocked by the foot injury to Even Top on Sunday, are back in a confident frame of mind according to his assistant Phil Green.
"Even Top was out for a long time this morning, a good hour and a half. He showed no ill effects and is absolutely fine," Green said.
"He walked and trotted then did a really good canter and seemed all right. He will do a little bit of work tomorrow then maybe a bit more on Thursday."
Frankie Dettori's agent was quick to quash speculation linking the champion jockey with the mount on Mystic Knight in Saturday's race.
"I know nothing about it," Matty Cowing said. "Frankie rides Shantou in the Derby."
There was a suggestion in The Sporting Life yesterday that Dettori could partner Mystic Knight, whom he rode to victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month.
But Cowing explained: "Frankie rode Mystic Knight at Lingfield but he wasn't in a position to accept the Derby ride then due to other commitments."
The Dermot Weld-trained Irish 1,000 Guineas second Dance Design was the lone Irish acceptor yesterday for the Prix de DianeHermes (French Oaks) at Chantilly on Sunday.
There were six British acceptors for the race. However, Pricket, Bint Salsabil and Mezzogiorno are all intended runners in the Vodatone Oaks on Friday so the British challenge looks set to consist of Musidora Stakes second Sil Sila and possibly Solar Crystal and Shemozzle at this stage.
There is a supplementary entry stage for the race tomorrow when fillies can be added at a cost of 140,000 francs.
Likely favourite is Luna Wells, owned jointly by John Magnier and Jean-Luc Lagardere, who is still entered in the Oaks but is more likely to head for Chantilly.
Luna Wells won the main trial, the Group One Prix Saint-Alary, by a length and a half from stable-mate Miss Tahiti who is also among the Diane acceptors.
American superstar Cigar has sustained what his owner, Allen Paulson, has called a "little bruise or an abscess" in his right front foot in the wake of his 15th consecutive success at the weekend.
Paul son said: "He will go back to the track in a few days if it clears up, and, hopefully, it won't prove too serious.
"He might miss some days training. I hope it's a short period. The plan is still to run him in the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30th. That is the next move."
It is believed that Cigar may have sustained the injury when carrying 9st 4lb to victory the highest he has ever had to carry in the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs last Saturday.
Cigar has been equipped with a small acrylic patch to protect a small crack in the wall of his hoof. He also bruised the same foot in February and missed 11 days work prior to his successful Dubai World Cup bid.
