The countdown to the Cheltenham Festival is in full swing now and while that will form our complete attention next week, until then our focus remains on the flat racing where once again we head to the desert for a couple of bets on Thursday.
The anticipation for Cheltenham is heightening by the day and after a couple of places at the weekend, we hope to build up our war chest to go into battle over the four days in Gloucestershire with a couple of big priced bets on Thursday.
3.40 Meydan
Preview
Despite not being part of the Carnival, this is a nice looking handicap over a mile and a quarter for horses rated between 80 & 100. This 16 runner race on the dirt sees Godolphin dominate the betting again with Saeed Bin Suroor responsible for the front 2 in the market. Market leader is Bright Start who won a maiden 2 starts ago in fine style by over 7 lengths before improving again to finish 2nd in a handicap behind subsequent Group 1 placed Hypothetical. A 5lb rise tempers enthusiasm. Real World, the yard’s second string, finished 3rd in a handicap last time over course & distance but is back up another 2lbs which is a slight negative. Twelfthofneverland won a pair of handicaps here but was almost 2 lengths behind Real World on his last start & the handicapper may have caught up with him. Pharaoh King is 2 from 2 in handicaps this year but this is his first start here & this is a step up in class. Drawn very wide is 15 is not ideal either.
Betting
I feel that Godolphin do hold the key to this, albeit not with the 2 mentioned, but with the sole Charlie Appleby runner, Saqqara King. Decent as a 2 year old in the UK, he then missed the whole of last season yet ran a good race here 4 weeks ago on his first start for over 500 days. In a strong looking handicap on turf over a mile and a half, he set the fractions & was still at front just over a furlong before the cavalry arrived but he stuck on very well to finish 6th, just over 4 lengths behind the winner who has won in Group 3 company since. This is notably easier & there should more to come given he’ll strip much fitter and the drop back in trip is another massive positive. I expected him to be one of the favourites so this price looks a cracking each way bet with the only question mark being his first time on dirt, although he is bred for it & that in itself could bring about the required improvement.
Tips
Back Saqqara King (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 9.00 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-6)
Special Offer
Count down to Cheltenham in style! Bet £10 to get £40 in free bets – £20 now and £20 for Cheltenham! Click the image below for this fantastic offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Min stake £10, min odds 2.0 (Evs). Only deposits made using Cards or ApplePay will qualify. Free bets valid for 30 days, x1 £20 free bet awarded at bet settlement, x1 £20 awarded at 10am Mon 15th March. T&Cs apply.
4.50 Meydan
Preview
Another handicap on dirt, this time over a mile, sees 13 runners with the market led by last year’s winner Alkaamel, ridden by Jim Crowley. He won this by over 13 lengths a year ago but he’s 11lbs higher here & is raised 3lbs from his last run when 3rd in a handicap. Monoski did us favour winning last time but that was under an enterprising Barzalona ride & a change of jockey coupled with a 7lb rise in weights puts me off whilst Millers House has something to prove after a no show when well fancied 8 weeks ago.
Betting
Verboten is another that was trained in the UK & was thought to be something special as a 2 year old, starting at 8/1 in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy despite only finishing 7th. Last term, he needed his first run back when beaten under a length, going off favourite before 2 under par performances in big handicaps. Well fancied in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, he hated the ground whilst his ultra wide draw at Glorious Goodwood put paid to his chances before the gates had opened. On his only start here from a new yard, he was 12 lengths 6th of 10 over an insufficient trip of 6 furlongs. He was taken off his feet early but stuck on for pressure, finishing quite well & looking like he’d improve for the run. The extra 2 furlongs is certain to suit & he is proven at the distance so it feels the right move. A decreasing mark & a slight drop in grade should help in what doesn’t look the strongest event.
Tips
Back Verboten (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 11.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
