This weekend’s racing makes no appeal betting wise and so I am instead going to put up three ante-post bets in the hope of landing a big-priced winner for the column over the next month or so.
The first bet is in Europe’s richest handicap on the flat, the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York on 22 August. This is a race in which Irish maestro Willie Mullins, who won the contest last year with Ethical Diamond, has no less than ten entries.
Mullins keeps his cards so close to his chest that I wouldn’t want to bet on which of his horses will run let alone which might win the race. Instead, I prefer the chances of an exposed British trained-runner in DAIQUIRI BAY.
Alan King’s progressive four-year-old gelding is two wins from two runs this season, landing the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot, run over the Ebor distance of one mile six furlongs, last time out.
King says the Ebor is his horse’s next target and, off a rating of 105, he is certain to make the cut for the race. His last two wins have been on ‘good to firm’ ground but the handler says Daiquiri Bay will be even better with cut. That means if the rain finally comes it should be good, not bad, news for his chances.
Rossa Ryan will surely be in the saddle seeking a hat-trick of wins on the horse. Daiquiri Bay has good course and distance form at York too because, again with Ryan riding, the pair were third in last year’s Sky Bet Melrose Handicap. Back Daiquiri Bay 1 point each way at 16-1 with Ladbrokes, Coral or Unibet, all paying four places.
Also at York’s Ebor meeting I am going to take a chance on a horse at huge price in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks for fillies and mares on 20 August. Thirty-seven horses have been entered at the initial stage but this is a race that usually cuts up – last year there were just four starters.
With this in mind, COEDANA, from the-in-form Ed Bethell yard, looks overpriced given the trainer is likely to let his improving four-year-old filly take her chance at the trainer’s local track.
Coedana has plenty to find on official ratings with the likes of Minnie Hauk, Kalpana and Estrange and she will be up in class after winning a listed race at Pontefract last month by only a neck.
However, she could be a sporty each-way bet if the race ends up with single-figure runners. Back her 1 point each way at 66-1 with bet365, William Hill or Unibet, all paying three places.
At Glorious Goodwood at the end of the month, I have already put up Cerulean Bay each way at 16-1 for the Coral Golden Mile on 31 July. David O’Meara’s five-year-old gelding finished down the field at York last weekend but he was not given a hard race after missing the break so that bet is still just fine.
However, I want to go into the race double handed with another horse at double-figure prices. SCOVILLE went straight into my horse tracker last month after his unlucky seventh of 28 runners in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on only his second run of the season.
Not only was Scoville drawn on the unfavoured far side in stall nine but he led the field for much of the contest in a race in which it paid to be held up off a fast pace. I think William Haggas’s four-year-old gelding will prove better than his official rating of 98 over time.
Back Scoville 1 point each way at 20-1 with bet365 for the Golden Mile, with the bookmaker paying four places. All other bookies have priced up Scoville at 14-1 or less for the race and so that 20-1 looks generous in the hope he takes his chance at Glorious Goodwood.
Next week I will be looking at the big card at Ascot the following day including the Moet & Chandon International Handicap.
Pending:
1 point each way Cerulean Bay at 16-1 for the Golden Mile, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Scoville at 20-1 for the Golden Mile, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Coedana at 66-1 for the Yorkshire Oaks, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Daiquiri Bay at 16-1 for the Ebor Handicap, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Last weekend: + 1.2 points
1 point each way Miss Attitude at 11-1 for the City Walls Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Lexington Blitz at 22-1 for the City Walls Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Non runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Great Acclaim at 7-1 for the Bunbury Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Danger Bay at 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. 4th. + 3 points.
1 point each way Castle Stuart at 16-1 for the John Smith’s Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. 3rd. + 2.2 points.
2026 flat season running total: + 8.025 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points on all tips.
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points on all tips.
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