A good decision to limit stakes last weekend, having drawn a blank.
Summary: Bet - 7pts, Return - 0pts, Loss - 7pts
Overall Profit - 5.1pts
This weekend brings one of my highlights in the racing calendar. The Breeders Cup offers traditionally good betting value, as the bookies find it problematic to price up races where they don't have a great depth of knowledge. They tend to react quickly to any tips offered up in the racing media, so with 'The Weekender' out tomorrow likely to be the first offering to which they react, I have already studied the form and placed my bets as follows:
Juvenile Sprint
This is a new race at the meeting, so there is no past history to make judgements against. The formbook points to Secret Circle being a near certainty, albeit at prohibitive odds. Jake Mo provides possible each way value, but surely can't beat the favourite.
Bet: Secret Circle - 4pts @ evens (William Hill)
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Elusive Kate is a worthy favourite, but offers little value in a race that needs luck in running, and is likely to fall to the filly with the best finishing kick. Pure Gossip, Royal Bonnie and Karlovy Vary are potential upset material, but I like the look of Stephanie's Kitten.
Bet: Stephanie's Kitten - 2pts @ 12/1 (Ladbrokes)
Filly & Mares Sprint
Pomeroys Pistol is a 3 year old on the upgrade with a win already against her elders. Switch could give her the most opposition.
Bet: Pomeroys Pistol - 4pts @ 8/1 (Ladbrokes)
Juvenile Fillies
My Miss Aurelia is the favourite, and rightly so. The only possible danger I see is Weemissfrankie.
Bet: My Miss Aurelia - 8pts @ 5/2* (Paddy Power)
Filly & Mares Turf
Stacelita, Nahrain and Announce are all potential winners, but there looks to be each way value in the overpriced Harmonious.
Bet: Harmonious - 4pts ew @ 25/1 (Ladbrokes)
Ladies Classic
Another race with a strong and justifiable favourite in Plum Pretty. It's Tricky could follow her home.
Bet: Plum Pretty - 8pts @ 5/2 (Coral)
Marathon
This looks wide open, and could provide a shock. Old rivals Eldaafer, Giant Oak and AU Miner reoppose, while the unexposed Cease could be anything. Brigantin is the class in the race but will he go on dirt? I can see Harrison' Cave plugging on for a place at decent odds, but at equally juicy odds Pleasant Prince could stay on and win.
Bet: Pleasant Prince - 2pts @ 20/1 (Coral)
Juvenile Turf
Another difficult race to handicap, with chances given to Animal Spirits, Shkspeare Shaliyah, Wrote and Farraaj. However the Todd Pletcher trained Finale looks the most likely winner to me.
Bet: Finale - 4pts @ 8/1 (Coral)
Sprint
A small field for this race so there shouldn't bee too many hard luck stories. Big Drama won last year when he had a light campaign. It looks like the plan is the same this year and I can't find a likely alternative.
Bet: Big Drama - 8pts @ 7/2 (Ladbrokes)
Turf Sprint
A bit of a lottery where luck in running will play a part. Plenty have chances, and there is every chance a long shot will triumph. Possibles are Broken Dreams, Country Day, Great Attack, Perfect Officer and Regally Ready. Jockeyship will be crucial and Broken Dreams is preferred with Garret Gomez in the saddle.
Bet: Broken Dreams - 2pts ew @ 16/1 (Tote)
Dirt Mile
Wilburn beat Shackleford and Caleb's Posse last time out, but the latters previous win over Uncle Mo stands out, and he looks a value bet.
Bet: Caleb's Posse - 4pts @ 7/1 (William Hill)
Turf
This should be a European 1-2-3. Win wise I prefer the chances of Midday and Sea Moon, who bypassed the Arc, and I rate St Nicholas Abbey and Sarafina as more likely to fill out the places. Slight preference is for Midday given her impressive previous Breeders Cup record.
Bet: Midday - 8pts @ 11/2 (Skybet)
Juvenile
Union Rags looks another good favourite, while Hansen could be anything. However Alpha, ridden by Garret Gomez, is good value to improve and possibly beat the other two.
Bet: Alpha - 2pts ew @ 16/1 (Ladbrokes)
Mile
This is supposed to be all about Goldikova. I don't like her inside draw though and Peslier might need to be at his best to avoid a troubled run, which means there is no value in betting her. There are a number of front running types in this, which means the likelihood of it being set up for a late runner to win. Byword and Gio Ponti are the most likely to profit, and I take the latter to make amends for finishing second to Goldikova last year.
Bet: Gio Ponti - 4pts @ 9/1 (Skybet)
Classic
So You Think could win this, but doubts about his adaptability to the dirt surface mean there is no value in his odds. I don't think the favourite, Uncle Mo will see out the distance at this level, and the filly, Havre De Grace is a better prospect. That said Flat Out looks a good thing to me, particularly given the good reports of his recent workouts at the track.
Bet: Flat Out - 8pts @ 13/2 (Tote)
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