Bookies Fear Roar Of The Tiger

Punters have plunged on Tranquil Tiger ahead of the totesport Ebor at York tomorrow.

The Henry Cecil-trained colt was a Listed winner at the Newmarket July meeting and was not beaten far in Group Three company at Glorious Goodwood.

Bookmakers William Hill have reported a major gamble on the lightly-raced three-year-old, seeing a rush of money which has forced them to cut him from 9-1 following the 48-hour declaration stage to just 11-2.

Spokesman Tony Kenny said: 'After we issued our revised prices for the Ebor, there was only one horse that the punters wanted to back.

'Tranquil Tiger was a 9-1 shot in our revised book, but that price lasted only about 20 minutes. We then cut him to 8-1, and subsequently 11-2 as the money continued to pour in for Henry Cecil's charge.'

Mark Johnston's Peppertree Lane, a Group Three winner in Ireland last time, tops the weights for the ever-competitive and richly-endowed 20-runner handicap.

Ante-post favourite Purple Moon has stood his ground along with Godolphin's Scriptwriter and the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair, Hitchcock and Honolulu.

Group Captain, Lake Poet and Strategic Mount ? who only runs if the ground is suitable ? are other notable runners, along with Jane Chapple-Hyam's Mudawin, who landed the race at odds of 100-1 last season.

Solent, El Tango, Pevensey, Castle Howard, All The Good, Wing Collar, Ogee, Minkowski, Mutawaffer and Nosferatu complete the field.

Northumberland Plate runner-up Macorville and Peter Chapple-Hyam's River Alhaarth have been declared as reserves and can replace non-runners up until this morning's 11.30am deadline.

(C) PA Sport