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
