Tag: Arlington

Arlington Park August 17th Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

I previewed the Arlington Million earlier in the week and there is a cracking supporting cast to Saturday’s big race. Trainer Marco Botti won the inaugural running of the American St Leger last season with Jakkalberry and is now poised to duplicate that success with the popular Dandino.

Dandino was formerly owned by the Elite Racing Club so had plenty of admirers. He didn’t let them down, giving them the pleasure of a Royal Ascot victory and a win at the Epsom Derby meeting. He has gone on to land the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes and the Group 3 September Stakes but his best days could still be ahead of him.

The American St Leger is only his first target with the Melbourne Cup a long term objective. Jakkalberry finished a highly creditable third in the Cup last year after being written off by many following a poor run in the Caulfield Cup. Ryan Moore has been snapped up to ride Dandino and the bookies seem to be in some disagreement about his price. William Hill have him at odds-on whilst you can still get 7-4 elsewhere. I’m happy to take the 7-4 with a little each-way at 33-1 for the Melbourne Cup in November.

Grandeur has been drawn in stall 13 on the wide outside for the Million. Our midweek selections Mull Of Killough (8) and Little Mike (11) have fared a little better. Moore rides Hunter’s Light in the Million but is over mainly to partner Dank in the Beverly D Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute.

Even Moore admitted to being surprised at how well she won in Ireland last time and it is not impossible that she could turn the tables on her Ascot conqueror Duntle. The one that both have to worry about is the progressive Gifted Girl, trained by Paul Cole. She has done nothing but improve this season and overcame firm ground to win a decent race at Pontefract last time. This is a big step up in class but she looks the value bet at around 13-2.

Yeager did us a nice favour when scoring at 20-1 in a handicap at Ascot last time out and now finds himself running in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes. At first glance that seems like a huge step up in class but this race may not take as much winning as  you might think. Moore also has the leg up on this one and I’m happy to re-invest some of the return from that Ascot race at 8-1 for a follow up.

Dandino 7-4 American St Leger Paddy Power

Dandino 33-1 Melbourne Cup Stan James

Gifted Girl 13-2 Beverly D Stakes Paddy Power

Yeager 8-1 Secretariat Stakes Bet Victor

Arlington Million Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

If, like me, you’re old enough to remember the Bill Watts-trained gelding Teleprompter, you will have fond memories of the Arlington Million. Back in the early eighties the bookies paid out at the returned overseas odds. I can’t remember exactly but I think Tolomeo returned at something like 47-1! Of course they soon eliminated that loophole and set up their own UK prices but it was fun while it lasted.

The Arlington Million doesn’t have the same prestige these days with competition from the likes of the Breeders’ Cup and the Dubai World Cup but a few Europeans still make the trip over. Last year, Afsare put up a mulish display at the start before running down all of the field except Little Mike. He’s gone on to blot his copy book a few times since, costing Kieren Fallon his job with the owners in the process.

Afsare will be plying his trade at Salisbury on Thursday whilst Grandeur leads the British challenge this time around. Jeremy Noseda’s grey has shown that he travels well with a couple of big pay-day’s last year. He also ran a cracker to bustle up the odds-on Mukhadram at York last time but 5-2 looks a bit skinny.

Mull Of Killough also has to be respected after a fine run behind Aljamaaheer at Ascot. As far as I know, Jane Chapple-Hyam isn’t prone to confident outbursts about her runners but she has been very confident about this one’s chances. I must admit that I’m not a particular fan of Joseph O’Brien but at odds of 10-1 he makes some each-way appeal.

We do tend to favour our own horses on these occasions, purely because we know so much more about them. However, there are at least two serious rivals to take into account here. The first is Little Mike who is trying to become the first horse ever to win back-to-back Millions. His victory 12 months ago was rather overshadowed by the luckless run of Afsare but he showed it was no fluke when winning at the Breeders’ Cup.

The problem with him is that he flopped twice in Dubai and then weakened rapidly when favourite in his comeback race. Connections have issued upbeat bulletins about him this week and at least we know that he will be out of trouble at the head of affairs. It could be that the bookies have overpriced him at 13-2.

The second big problem for the British raiders is the Argentinian chestnut Indy Point. He has won four Group races at home including the last two legs of their Triple Crown. Admittedly it is difficult to know how that form compares but we do know that he is no mug. Hunter’s Light and The Apache have not shown enough in their recent races to warrant support here whilst Guest Performer is taking a big step up from his earlier run in the Spring Cup at Newbury. Side Glance is no back number just yet but it would be surprising if there weren’t a couple able to beat him here.

Whilst I fully respect the claims of Grandeur I think the value lies in Little Mike and Mull Of Killough at the current odds.

Little Mike 13-2 Stan James
Mull Of Killough 10-1 Paddy Power