from Sporting LIfe:

St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback and will not run in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

Ballydoyle's three-year-old was on Tuesday morning found to have suffered a slight muscle injury in a hind quarter.

Aidan O'Brien's colt was the long-time ante-post favourite for the premier Classic, but failed to impress jockey Johnny Murtagh in a work-out last Friday.

O'Brien told Welcome to Coolmore "St Nicholas Abbey was due to work first thing this morning, however when he came out of his box we noticed he was stiff behind.

"He had looked slightly stiff yesterday evening. His work on Friday last was a little lacklustre for him and that was the first time we had seen anything different, but he was fine afterwards.

"He was immediately examined and scanned by our vets this morning.

"They found a slight muscle injury high up in his hind quarter. This meant he could not work today and we were advised to give him an easy few days.

"Obviously this will preclude him from running in the Investec Derby on Saturday.

"We always thought St Nicholas Abbey could walk on water and it is very unfortunate for all concerned to have a setback like this so close to the big race."

St Nicholas Abbey was a brilliant winner of last year's Racing Post Trophy, extending his unbeaten juvenile record to three.

He returned to the track last month in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, in which he finished a satisfactory sixth behind Makfi.

O'Brien still holds a strong hand at Epsom, however, with new favourite Jan Vermeer the subject of a sustained gamble over the last few days.

The impressive Gallinule Stakes scorer could be joined in the final line-up by stablemates Midas Touch, Cape Blanco, At First Sight and Bright Horizon.

St Nicholas Abbey's defection was branded by bookmakers William Hill as a "£3million body-blow to punters".

Hills spokesman David Hood said: "St Nicholas Abbey had been the long-time favourite for the Derby ever since his win in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster last October.

"Of course, ante-post liabilities are only a fraction of what is incurred on the day, but we estimate that punters would already have stood to win in excess of £3million across the industry."

That view was echoed by David Williams of Ladbrokes, who said: "It's dreadful news for punters. They kept the faith all through the winter.

"We reckon at least £2million has been staked on St Nicholas Abbey since late last summer.

"There's no way to soften the blow. It highlights the perils of ante-post punting but the timing and scale of the news have combined to render it very bleak news indeed."

Jan Vermeer is now clear 13-8 favourite with Sky Bet to win on Saturday. Sir Michael Stoute's Dante runner-up Workforce is now second favourite at 11/2, while Midas Touch is 6/1 and Bullet Train next in the running at 13/2.

Matt Doyle of Sky Bet said: "The news is a bitter pill to swallow for ante-post punters who were on St Nic at fancy prices through the winter for the Derby making him by far the worst result in our book."

DC, any idea what time the Epsom Derby runs? In pacific or eastern time?
Looking to bet it tomorrow but can't seem to locate such an easy piece of info.
Twinspires has the card starting at 9am EST, but Im sure there will be atleast a few of the undercard races shown before the Epsom Derby.

Originally Posted by FlyinLate

DC, any idea what time the Epsom Derby runs? In pacific or eastern time?
Looking to bet it tomorrow but can't seem to locate such an easy piece of info.
Twinspires has the card starting at 9am EST, but Im sure there will be atleast a few of the undercard races shown before the Epsom Derby.

Also, any thoughts on it? I'm leaning toward Bullet Train atm...

I'm really not familiar with the Euros yet. I generally start paying attention during Royal Ascot. I'm about to posting an article on the race from Simon Holt, who's a very sharp European writer/handicapper for Sporting Life, and goes in some detail on all the big races.

I'll see if i can track down the post time for you, but it may be English time, and i'm really not sure what the time difference is. Will post back here if i find anything.

Edit: Looks like 4:00 English Time