Chris Waller has the top trio in Epsom Handicap betting after Joe Pride did not accept with one-time favourite Rock Sturdy in the $500,000 group 1 on Saturday.
Waller, who has four runners in the biggest race of the Sydney spring, fared favourably during Wednesday's barrier draw with Royal Descent (barrier 11) promoted to $4.60 favourite with Tab.com.au.
Defending champion Boban (barrier 1) and He's Your Man (barrier 10) share the second line of betting at $6 with Hawkes Racing's Toydini (barrier 8).
The real drama came earlier on Wednesday when Pride did not accept with Rock Sturdy after vets detected a leg problem on Wednesday morning.
Pride intended to run Rock Sturdy, raced under the Gooree Park Stud banner, for the third straight week after his runner-up finish in the Bill Ritchie and dominant Shannon Stakes win.
Singapore-based Corey Brown was due to jet into Australia on Saturday to partner Rock Sturdy, but instead will now partner stablemate Laser Hawk, which was a late inclusion in the Epsom.
"Hopefully it's not as bad as what we think it could be, but either way we'll put the horse first," Gooree's racing manager Monica Barrera-Cummings told Sky Sports Radio of Rock Sturdy.
"[The near fore suspensory] is the suspicious area and we'll have to get it scanned and deal with it accordingly once we know what it is officially."
Laser Hawk has been the subject of some big bets with Tab.com.au over the past fortnight, including one $500 each-way bet at $101.
Cameron Handicap winner Hooked, set to be sold on Wednesday afternoon in the Patinack Farm dispersal sale, drew horribly in barrier 14.
