Horse Racing Betting Tips: Eagle to swoop and land massive Ebor pot for Botti
THERE aren’t many races during the season that are worth £1million, but in 12 months’ time that is exactly what will be up for grabs in the Sky Bet Ebor (3.40pm).
That’s an incredible amount for a handicap and this year’s £500,000 certainly isn’t to be sniffed at.
The result of this massive prize money boost is that the Ebor is going to have a very different complexion in the future.
Essentially it’s going to be a UK version of the Melbourne Cup and only the best quality, or at least the highest rated, stayers need apply.
The big question on everyone’s lips this week has been whether the hot favourite Stratum will sneak into the field.
Willie Mullins’ five-year-old has got in at number 19 and there will be punters up and down the land clamouring to back him.
Owner Tony Bloom has landed some massive pots over the past 12 months and Stratum has an obvious chance of providing him another big win.
He was hugely impressive when winning the inaugural JLT Cup at Newbury last month, but he’s a short price at 4/1 and you have to go back to 2007 for the last winning favourite.
There’s also the matter of the draw.
You might expect a low draw to be an advantage in a race like this, but the last 10 winners have all come from double-figure stalls with five of the last six breaking from 15 or higher.
I’m not convinced you need to be high, but if you miss the kick from a low stall you could be in all sorts of trouble and trap four is a slight worry.
I cannot even consider backing him at such a short price in a race like this, so I’m going to back Marco Botti’s CROWNED EAGLE each-way at 12/1 with Betway.
Formerly trained by John Gosden, he’s had a fine campaign so far, winning the Rosebery Handicap at Kempton in March before conceding 8lbs to Hamada and only going down by a head over 1m4f at York in May.
The winner of that race is now 18lbs higher, so you’d have to say that Crowned Eagle could still be well treated of just an 8lb higher mark.
He ran a cracker to be second in the Old Newton Cup last time and looks to have solid claims here with the step up in trip expected to suit.
John Gosden’s pair Weekender and Muntahaa can go well, while this looks to have been the plan all season for Blakeney Point.
You also can’t rule out Mullins’ second string Whiskey Sour, but I’ll stick with Crowned Eagle as my sole selection.
The action at York gets underway with the Group Three Strensall Stakes (1.50pm) where I’m hoping LORD GLITTERS can deservedly get his head in front for the first time this season.
He’s been mightily consistent at both Group One and Group Two level, so this represents a drop in class and 15/8 is a fair price.
It could be a good day for David O’Meara as I also like his SUEDOIS in the Group Three City Of York Stakes (3.00pm).
He was nutted right on the line in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last time and is another who deserves a trip to the winners’ enclosure.
Expert Eye is feared, but I’d rather back Suedois at 11/4 than him at 7/4.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Lord Glitters 1.50pm York
Suedois 3.00pm York
Crowned Eagle e/w 3.40pm York