Horse Racing Betting Tips: Rab looks like Havlin the time of his life after Mehdaayih wins
DECISIONS, decisions, decisions.
At Epsom’s Breakfast With The Stars event last week, Frankie Dettori said he would wait for as long as he could before deciding who he would ride in today’s Investec Oaks (4.30pm).
Earlier this month, in the Cheshire Oaks, the Italian partnered Fanny Logan over stablemate MEHDAAYIH, but he was left toiling in her wake as the daughter of Frankel powered clear of her rivals under Rab Havlin.
A few days later and Dettori was landing the Lingfield Oaks Trial with Anapurna, another Frankel offspring, who also lines up this afternoon.
It must have been a hard decision for John Gosden’s stable jockey, yet he has decided to stick with the Lingfield heroine who was an impressive six-length winner that day.
In truth there mustn’t be much between them, but the fact Dettori has gone with Anapurna means we can now back Mehdaayih at 3/1 with Coral which looks a fair price.
Havlin has ridden her on four of her five career starts, winning the last three, so he knows as much about her as anyone else.
It was impossible not to be seriously impressed with the Chester performance.
She had only won a match at Chelmsford the time before that but she had done so in a quick time and she showed blistering speed again at Chester.
There is very little not to like about her chances and if Dettori was in the saddle I’d expect her to be 2/1 or shorter.
Anapurna must also be greatly respected as she is still unexposed having had just the three starts.
She won the Lingfield Oaks Trial in a time only fractionally slower than Anthony Van Dyck in the colts’ version so it looked a very decent effort.
The problem is she was 10/1 earlier in the week and is now no bigger than 6/1 following the jockey bookings.
Aidan O’Brien has won the Oaks seven times and his Pink Dogwood, one of four contenders from Ballydoyle, is the 11/4 favourite with Ladbrokes.
The daughter of Camelot was well backed for this over the winter and reappeared with a comfortable success in a Listed race at Navan in April.
The vibes around Ryan Moore’s mount are very strong and she looks to have a favourite’s chance, although she is short enough based on what she has done on the racecourse.
Maqsad bolted up in the Pretty Polly Stakes over 1m2f at Newmarket last time, but I’d be worried about the extra two furlongs here.
Manuela De Vega and Frankellina are both very promising fillies who should run well, but I am going to stick with Mehdaayih whose Chester win looks better every time you watch it.
When SALOUEN won a 1m4f Listed contest at Ascot earlier this month it had been a long time in between drinks for Sylvester Kirk’s son of Canford Cliffs.
However, now he has got his head in front he may finally net the Group One prize he richly deserves in the Investec Coronation Cup (3.10pm).
Heartbreakingly reeled in by Cracksman late on in this contest 12 months ago, he has shown his liking for the course and looks the each-way play in the race at 8/1.
Kew Gardens, Lah Ti Dar and Old Persian all have questions to answer to some degree and my selection might be able to cause a minor shock.
POINTERS
Salouen e/w 3.10pm Epsom
Mehdaayih 4.30pm Epsom