Neeson and Trusting remained joint favourites for the Group One Epsom Handicap after Wednesday's all-important barrier draw while Firebolt's chances were dealt a blow when he came up with the outside gate.Neeson drew perfectly in barrier four ahead of his first Group One test on Saturday while the John Thompson-trained Trusting came up with barrier nine in the final field of 20 plus one emergency.The pair head the TAB Sportsbet market at $6 with Firebolt the only other runner under double-figure
Neeson and Trusting remained joint favourites for the Group One Epsom Handicap after Wednesday's all-important barrier draw while Firebolt's chances were dealt a blow when he came up with the outside gate.
Neeson drew perfectly in barrier four ahead of his first Group One test on Saturday while the John Thompson-trained Trusting came up with barrier nine in the final field of 20 plus one emergency.
The pair head the TAB Sportsbet market at $6 with Firebolt the only other runner under double-figure odds at $6.50 for the feature Randwick mile (1600m).
Despite coming up with barrier 21, Firebolt's Epsom jockey Glyn Schofield believes all is far from lost for the Roger James-trained runner.
Firebolt raced away with the Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill last start, winning by 3-1/2 lengths.
"He's drawn the carpark which is unfortunate but it was a very strong win the other day, a really eye-catching performance," Schofield said.
"He's obviously got speed, he's going to have to do a bit of work from out there but he did it very tough last time out as well and was still very strong right through.
"I think even though the draw is a concern, he's still one of the main hopes in the race."
Joe Pride accepted with three runners with Sacred Choice (barrier 15) and first emergency Syreon (13) joining Neeson.
"The barrier draw worked out alright, I would have liked Sacred Choice to have drawn a better barrier to really enhance her chances," Pride said.
"We won't be too negative from there, she'll hopefully be midfield with cover and she'll find the line really well.
"With Neeson, that (barrier four) is ideal. We'll press forward and be up there in the leading bunch."
George Main Stakes runner-up Trusting will be backing up in the Epsom after his encouraging second to star mare More Joyous in the weight-for-age Group One at Randwick last Saturday.
"I don't worry about barriers, you can't do anything about them," Trusting's jockey Jim Cassidy said.
"He (Trusting) is backing up, going back to a handicap from a weight-for-age race which is a good form race.
"The big plus for him is that he ran well at weight-for-age and is dropping back to a handicap."
Gai Waterhouse is chasing her seventh Epsom win and her third in a row following the victories of Theseo in 2008 and Rock Kingdom last year.
Once Were Wild and Cannonball will be Waterhouse's representatives in the $500,000 event with Corey Brown to ride Once Were Wild for the first time from barrier five.
"She's drawn the perfect barrier," Brown said.
"There's a lot of speed out wide which makes for a decent tempo. I haven't ridden her before but I've seen from watching the videos that she's quite tough, and I'm happy to be riding her."