ANOTHER busy day of horse racing. Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) shares his thoughts.
14:45 Ascot | Channel 4
The Summer Mile has unfortunately only got six runners but it looks tailor made for Arod to take another step up the miling ladder.
Last season Arod was seen as a middle distance horse, running massive races in the Dante and Derby before winning an egg and spoon race at Leicester. He was a little flat in the Juddmonte International and that was the last we saw of him.
This season he came back and looks like a new horse. Connections have dropped him in trip and it has proved a masterstroke. He came third in the Lockinge beaten less than a length then he went to Epsom on Derby weekend winning the Diomed stakes. He made all there and ran out an impressive winner.
Even though his form still falls short of the very top milers, he is the class act in this field, and with his new no nonsense front running tactics you don’t have to worry about it being a messy race. I make him a very confident selection at 15/8 with William Hill.
15:45 Newmarket | Channel 4
The July cup is here and it’s being billed as a match between Australian superstar Brazen Beau and Muhaarar who destroyed his opposition at Royal Ascot. Though they bring the best form in to the race you can’t write off the rest of the field and I’m prepared to take them on in this.
Brazen Beau ran a huge race on his British debut in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot coming second despite running alone for most of the race, but I think that was his chance there. Ascot is a stiff track, but it is fairly flat and this suits Australian horses who spend their time racing on bowling greens. Newmarket is not flat and the track will surely not suit him as much which is my main reason for taking him on.
Muhaarar looked incredible in his last race and at 5/1 antepost he was an interesting proposition. Now thanks to withdrawals and punters confidence he is half that price and it is no longer as appealing. He’d previously won the Greenham in a very quick time before disappointing in the French Guineas. I expect him to be involved in the finish but I’m backing a bigger priced rival.
I really respect Muthmir, G Force and Anthem Alexander in this and looked at them before coming up with another each way alternative. Tropics was runner up in this race last season and saves his best form for the track. He disappointed at Royal Ascot this year, but he followed the exact same route last season and that doesn’t overly concern me. He is available at 25/1 and this is a great price each way for a course specialist. I expect him to be involved in a race that is a lot more competitive than the bookmakers seem to think.
Best Bets
14:45 Ascot – Arod to win (15/8 William Hill)
15:45 Newmarket – Tropics each way (25/1 Bet 365)
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