Horse Racing Betting Tips: This Boy looks a Classic bet at Breeders’ Cup
HATS off to trainer John Gosden for opting to roll the dice and send stable stars Enable and Roaring Lion over to Kentucky this weekend for the Breeders’ Cup.
The former is set to tackle tomorrow night’s Turf (8.56pm), while the latter runs in the Classic (9.44pm), the feature race of the meeting.
If the Europeans are to have a winner at the meeting, then Arc heroine Enable looks the most likely to get the job done in the Turf with conditions now firmly in her favour.
Europe have won eight of the last 10 renewals of the 1m4f contest and it would be a major shock if she didn’t add to that already impressive tally.
At just 4/7 with Coral, she’s not great value sadly, especially as the recent rain is likely suit main rival Waldgeist.
Roaring Lion faces a much stiffer task as he switches to dirt for the first time in the Classic.
Having rattled off his fourth straight Group One win at Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last month, it was widely expected that he would be immediately retired to stud.
However, connections have opted to take their chance and it would be fairy-tale stuff if he could round off a glittering career in this $6million contest.
That seems unlikely, though, with the ‘kickback’ surely set to cause him all kinds of problems.
In fact, I prefer the chances of fellow European raider Thunder Snow who is proven on the surface and slips in here under the radar.
Yet, both may have their work cut out to beat CATHOLIC BOY for up and coming US trainer Jonathan Thomas.
Having once been considered a Kentucky Derby prospect, the three-year-old was given time off after finishing fourth in the Florida Derby in March.
That was an inspired decision as he has returned fresh with two wins on turf in June and July before an emphatic victory in the Grade One Travers Stakes last time back on the dirt.
Admittedly, he is taking on his elders for the first time, but this route via the Travers Stakes has been used by two of the last three winners and he has such a likeable battling attitude.
I’m prepared to take an each-way chance at the 7/1 currently on offer.
Polydream looks to have an excellent chance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (7.36pm), although she will need plenty of luck and has yet to prove that this mile is her optimum trip.
Trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick teamed up to win last year’s Filly & Mare Turf (6.04pm) with Wuheida and they look to have an outstanding chance of making it back-to-back victories with WILD ILLUSION.
She had a break after winning the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in August and looked as good as ever when winning the Prix de l’Opera on Arc day last time.
The recent rain is a plus, as is a decent draw in stall three, and she looks worth support at around the 9/4 mark.
There are six decent races on offer this evening featuring all five juvenile contests.
Chad Brown has an impressive record in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (8.00pm), having won three of the last four renewals, and his NEWSPAPEROFRECORD could be hard to beat.
She has been an impressive winner of both starts to date on yielding ground so should have no issues if the heavens open.
If you hunt around, you can find some 15/8 and there is every chance she will be a lot shorter than that in the US.
Finally, Aidan O’Brien looks to have a big chance of landing another Juvenile Turf (9.22pm), this time with Anthony Van Dyck.
However, the combination of the rain and the draw (stall 14 of 14) puts me off him and I’m prepared to take a chance on FORTY UNDER who is unbeaten since being switched to turf and handles cut in the ground.
At 10/1 with Coral, he looks a decent each-way shot from a good draw.
POINTERS FRIDAY
Newspaperofrecord 8.00pm (Juvenile Fillies Turf) Churchill Downs
Forty Under e/w 9.22pm (Juvenile Fillies Turf) Churchill Downs
SATURDAY
Wild Illusion 6.04pm (Filly & Mare Turf) Churchill Downs
Catholic Boy e/w 9.22pm (Classic) Churchill Downs