Stoute’s Main Aim set to take Jury Stakes en route to Golden Jubilee
The Derby is just over a week away and Epsom held it’s annual ‘Breakfast with the Stars’ at the course yesterday. John Oxx, John Gosden, Willie Haggas, Mick Channon and Michael Bell were just some of the trainers on hand to give us the latest news on their Classic hopefuls, while Aidan O’Brien and Jim Bolger both spoke to Clare Balding via telephone link-up.
From a betting perspective, the only things to report to you are that Jim Bolger will run his Oh Goodness Me in next Friday’s Oaks and she’ll certainly start shorter than the 33/1 on offer with some firms this morning. I expect her to be nearer half that price which means if you back her now, you’ll be able to lay her back at a much shorter price on Betdaq on the day and have a free bet.
Willie Haggas’s South Easter worked well on the course and he’s another who’ll start shorter than the current 50/1 on offer with Boylesports. A few firms have priced up the ‘English’ Epsom Derby and at 9/2 he looks decent value to emerge as the best of the home charge.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s action and the main race of day comes from Haydock in the shape of the Timeform Jury Stakes run at 3.05pm. Now, the one that immediately shines out like a beacon is the Sir Michael Stoute trained MAIN AIM. The four-year-old went into plenty of notebooks when bolting up in a handicap at Newbury last time and looks sure to go close now stepping into Group 3 company. Asset, Arabian Gleam and Beacon Lodge are all respected, but I confidently expect Main Aim to take this on his way to the Group One Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot next month.
Elsewhere on the Haydock card, I expect FULLANDBY at a decent price to take a hand in the opener at 2.05pm, while I’m also keen on AMERIGO off top weight in the last at 4.45pm. Michael Jarvis has opted to run the selection in handicap company rather than a Listed event and that decision should pay off. The drying ground will suit and it’s tough to find anything good enough to beat him.
Look out for the Richard Hannon trained newcomer FREMONT in Goodwood’s 3.55pm tomorrow. The stable’s juveniles are just about to hit top form and this fellow is expected to go pretty close at the first time of asking. The same yard are also responsible for SEQUILLO in the 4.10pm contest at that same track this afternoon. I’m prepared to give him another chance today and reckon he may go close at a decent price. It’s definitely worth taking a price first thing just in case the money arrives.
POINTERS…
SEQUILLO E/W
(4.10pm Goodwood, today)
FULLANDBY E/W
(2.05pm Haydock, tomorrow)
MAIN AIM
(3.05pm Haydock, tomorrow)
FREMONT
(3.55pm Goodwood, tomorrow)
AMERIGO
(4.45pm Haydock, tomorrow)
Bill was in cracking form last week tipping up Mastercraftsman, winner of the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas and he followed that with a 1-2 in the fillies renewal 24 hours later.