Overdose may struggle against better opposition
ALL eyes will be on Hungarian superstar Overdose as he has his first real test back from injury in tomorrow’s Temple Stakes at Haydock (3.00pm)
The six-year-old grabbed the headlines when bolting up in the voided Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day back in 2008, but injury has only seen him make the racecourse six times since. His reappearance after 231 days on the sidelines at Hoppegarten last month proved nothing except for the fact that he has four legs. He is quite literally thrown back in the deep end here on ground that is bound to be too quick for him. He is a 2/1 shot with William Hill and I’d far rather be a layer than a backer on Betdaq.
Finding one to beat him is a little harder as these sprinters seem to take winning in turns. However, Irish raider SOLE POWER ran an eye-catcher in the Palace House at Newmarket last time and proved that last year’s Nunthorpe win was no fluke. He looks a decent each-way proposition at 12/1 with William Hill.
Yet, the best bet of the weekend looks to be the Michael Bell-trained two-year-old APOSTLE in York’s 4.15pm tomorrow. The grey son of Dark Angel is really well regarded at home and is expected to take this on his way to Royal Ascot.
Richard Hannon won last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas with Canford Cliffs and he relies on Dubawi Gold in tomorrow’s renewal (3.45pm). He’s the 7/4 favourite with William Hill, but I think he was flattered to finish so close to Frankel last time. The one to back is Kevin Prendergast’s DUNBOYNE EXPRESS at 5/2 who has won three of his four career starts and should relish the forecast conditions.