Best Of Bets

Tag: Derby Weekend

  • Epsom Derby Festival | 28/1 Auguste Rodin can rise in Coronation Cup

    Epsom Derby Festival | 28/1 Auguste Rodin can rise in Coronation Cup

    Saturday’s Betfred Derby will gain most of the attention at Epsom this weekend, however, Friday’s Coronation Cup might just steal the show.

    The fifth British Champions Series contest of the season, Emily Upjohn is favourite to defend her crown, but Luxembourg and Time Lock will have other ideas.

    However, as a champion returns to the Downs, Auguste Rodin might just be eyeing an upset.

     

    Off the radar

    If we take a glance at the markets for the Coronation Cup, it seems not only the bookies but the punters have forgotten how good Auguste Rodin can be.

    Yes, his first two runs of the season may have been less than impressive, but his runner-up finish behind White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup only last weekend was a huge improvement.

    With just one outing on the Downs it is difficult to say whether the 4yo really likes Epsom or not, but memories of last June are sure to flood back.

     

    Derby glory

    In May 2023, it all went so wrong for Auguste Rodin.

    A strong 13/8f for the 2000 Guineas, the son of Deep Impact never got to grips with the Rowley Mile, finishing a lowly 12th out of 14 runners.

    As Chaldean and Frankie Dettori came home at 9/2 for a fitting Newmarket send-off, it was a setback.

    Less than a month later however, Auguste rode in for Derby glory.

    Hauling back King of Steel over the final furlongs, Auguste Rodin won a ninth Derby for his trainer and third for Ryan Moore.

    Firmly consigning his doubters to the scrap heap, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and then Breeders’ Cup Turf spoils followed.

    Pundits might point to this weekend’s ground not being firm or fast enough, but they should remember his two wins on tackier turf on his debut season.

    Only rank outsider, Hans Andersen will fetch a longer price in this contest, but as 28/1 shots with SpreadEx go, names won’t come bigger.

    Do not be surprised if Auguste Rodin pulls a rabbit from the hat.

     

    Long punts

    Auguste Rodin looks set to go off at some whack for the Coronation Cup, but he will be joined by a rampant White Birch.

    Too strong for Rodin at the Curragh last Sunday, the 4yo of JJ Murphy came home third in last year’s Derby behind both the former and King of Steel.

    An improved horse and clearly in form having won the last three, if White Birch gets a bit of extra rain before the weekend, Colin Keane could be in business at a baffling long price of 20/1 with Unibet.

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    The one other price angle, punters should take a look at Hamish.

    Unbeaten in five, the 2022 Irish St. Leger runner-up – behind Kyprios only – has during that period won a Silver Cup, and also a Kings Plate at Glorious Goodwood last summer.

    A short-price winner on most occasions, his price this Friday is significantly higher.

    With no issues in regard to the projected ground though, if anything, should the going flip to good to soft, a 16/1 punt with BetUK might fare favourably.

     

    The Coronation Cup takes place on Friday at Epsom, race time 3:10pm UK time.

  • 2023 Betfred Derby Festival: 14/1 Epsom punt fancied by ITV pundits

    2023 Betfred Derby Festival: 14/1 Epsom punt fancied by ITV pundits

    As June blazes in, summer classic season hits top gear with this weekend’s Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom.

    In a month which concludes with Royal Ascot, first, the 1m4f trip on the Downs takes top billing.

    With 15 races sandwiched into the card, we’ve picked three to feature at varying prices.

     

    Friday 16:30 Betfred Oaks, Soul Sister – 11/4

    Beginning with Friday’s Oaks, Running Lion‘s form is impressive but without a drop of rain, Soul Sister is the filly for us.

    As Frankie Dettori galloped away to win the Musidora at York last month, the 14/1 SP of John and Thady Gosden’s promising lady was left in tatters.

    Romping away on turf that had at last firmed up, too much was placed on her form from Newbury.

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    Instead, a debut winner at Doncaster last October, the youngster proved she can handle the soft ground, but will much prefer the going good.

    Everything points to said Epsom going being Good to Firm this weekend and Soul Sister has the groove at 11/4 with William Hill.

     

    Saturday 13:30: Betfred Epsom Derby, White Birch – 14/1

    Turning to the Festival’s main event, whilst Auguste Rodin, Military Order and Passenger are jousting to be Derby favourite, White Birch is very much still our long-price fancy.

    And we have sound company in our pick.

    Indeed, ITV Racing duo Francesca Cumani and Leonna Mayor have been vocal in their support in JJ Murphy‘s pretender to the Derby crown.

    In his last outing, the colt was a storming runner-up to The Foxes in The Dante and with a few extra furlongs could have taken the win.

    A double winner on Irish turf his two races prior, he will be keen again to put a show on British soil.

    The son of Ulysses – a Juddmonte winner himself in 2016 – White Birch has the pedigree to perform on the big stage.

    At a still very tasty 14/1 with BoyleSports, the grey looks excellent value.

     

    Saturday 14:10: Princess Elizabeth Stakes, Astral Beau – 8/1

    Finally, we move to the following race on the card, the Princess Elizabeth Stakes with a good e/w consideration for Astral Beau.

    Now targeting races just over the 1m mark, the 4yo travelled well to place third in the Howden last time out.

    Of more significance perhaps, the mount of Shane Foley was a winner over the slightly shorter distance in the Doncaster Mile earlier this spring.

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    Still preferring 7f, Astral Beau has nevertheless won four of her last six  – placing in all outings.

    We just get the feeling trainer Pam Sly could be on to a good thing here.

    The four-length winning margin in Yorkshire proved there could be a stayer in this horse yet, at 8/1 with 888Sport.

  • Epsom Derby Weekend Preview: Ante-post analysis

    Epsom Derby Weekend Preview: Ante-post analysis

    The endless weeks of build-up have drawn to a close as it is the week of the Epsom Derby.

    The two-day event around the undulations of the Surrey-based track is just a few days away and we at Bestofbets.com can’t wait.

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    For me, the last few weeks of the Ante-post Analysis series have seen some good success; THE FOXES winning the Dante and CAIRO placing in the Irish 2000 Guineas are the main highlights.

    And as for last week’s The Top Three column, well, we will be discussing that on Friday.

    I won’t get too ahead of myself as you have to take the peaks and troughs with a good degree of level-headedness in this game, so I’m sure I’ll come crashing back down to Earth sooner than I would like.

    Hopefully, it is not this week as I have a few early fancies for the Epsom Derby weekend.

     

    Keen on the Queen

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    The Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday looks to be a cracking contest at the time of writing with 10 entered for the ÂŁ100,000 race.

    Although another one of my cliff horses, Prosperous Voyage, is at the head of the market, my head has been turned by a different four-year-old filly.

    QUEEN AMINATU shaped like a filly going placed last time out on the all-weather as she stayed on behind an on-song Sacred over seven furlongs at Lingfield.

    That form, in my eyes, is worth a good deal in a race like this as she was three-wide around the bend having finished third to Sandrine, a Group 2 winner, and Sacred, a horse who has all the attributes of a Group 1 filly when she is 100%.

    Furthermore, on her only start at a mile, she blitzed her competition at Lingfield, a race that included Oscula, a three-time Group 3 winner.

    Although most of her form is on the all-weather, her second on good ground over a mile at Haydock last season gives me hope that she will handle conditions on Saturday.

    If she can continue her progression, it will take a good one to beat her and the 8/1 available with BetVictor is a good price.

     

    One better than Silver

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    It’s almost like I’m living in a world of deja-vu as my next fancy was put up here two weeks ago before being declared a non-runner.

    Alas, having heard that this has always been the target, I’m willing to go back in on SILVER SWORD at 12/1.

    His case is obvious on one piece of form alone as his fifth to Military Order three starts ago reads extremely well, something that could see another boost if Godolphin’s Derby hope obliges earlier on the card.

    Following that run, a good second to Empress Wu and a facile victory at Southwell has only bolstered his claims.

    Now returning to 1m2f, something that should suit on pedigree as his dam (Aurora Grey) won three times over two miles, he could make light work of his official rating of 82.

    It is a competitive field and he does need one horse to come out to run, but hopefully that occurs and he can light up the Downs.

     

    Bring down the House

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    And finally, in a showering of repetition, my final ante-post play of Derby Weekend is a horse whom I put up at York two weeks ago.

    He finished fifth on seasonal reappearance at the Dante meeting, something I hope puts him spot on for the Dash on Saturday.

    That’s right, I’m sticking with CLARENDON HOUSE at 7/1 with William Hill.

    Despite running a career-best according to RPRs, the five-year-old was dropped two pounds by the handicapper for his last run.

    For a horse who travelled like the winner for three furlongs, received three reminders from Daniel Muscutt, and just emptied on his first start for 240 days, the run at York was very pleasing.

    On pure numbers, his second at Beverley two starts ago when eight pounds wrong at the weights with Acklam Express (3rd) was great and the second to Raasel last season, a horse who would go on to improve 15 pounds, when giving five pounds away shines brightly.

    Now rated 100, just one pound higher than his last winning mark, the test of Epsom should suit, and he is my fancy for the Dash on Epsom Derby weekend.