Horse racing betting tips: Hermosa ready to give O’Brien yet another Sun Chariot success
PUNTERS were left with burnt fingers when Laurens finished a well-beaten fourth behind Iridessa in the Matron Stakes in Ireland a fortnight ago.
She was sent off the well-backed even money favourite that day and will be fancied to bounce back in tomorrow’s Group One Sun Chariot Stakes, a race she won 12 months ago.
There is no getting away from the fact she is a classy six-time winner at the highest level who goes particularly well at Newmarket, but I am prepared to take her on with a filly who finished in front of her last time.
HERMOSA, winner of both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas earlier in the season, was having her first run back after six weeks off at Leopardstown last time.
That run will have blown the cobwebs away and at 5/1 with Star Sports, she looks the value call to win this race for a third time in four years for trainer Aidan O’Brien.
With so much rain in the air, it is no surprise to see Morando in such warm order at 7/4 for the Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.35pm) over at Ascot.
Andrew Balding’s six-year-old revels in the mud and routed the useful Kew Gardens by eight lengths at Chester back in May, but has to shoulder a 3lbs penalty here for that success tomorrow.
The drop back in trip won’t help either and I am prepared to take him on with WELLS FARHH GO at around the 8/1 mark.
His recent form figures don’t inspire confidence, but the return to this distance is ideal and he handles cut in the ground.
With Tim Easterby’s team in great form, he looks the one to give the favourite most to think about.
Morando’s owners King Power Racing could gain some compensation in the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (3.40pm) with DONJUAN TRIUMPHANT if the rain hangs around.
He hasn’t fired on either of his last two starts, but he goes well at Ascot and the softer it gets, the better his chances at 6/1 with Star Sports.
It is easy to make a case out for at least half of the 18 runners declared for the ultra-competitive looking Challenge Cup (3.10pm).
Both Ripp Orf and Kynren are on long losing runs.
Ripp Orf hasn’t won in 11 attempts since winning this 12 months ago and looks the most probable victor off just a 3lbs higher mark.
Kynren hasn’t won for over two years and races here off the same mark as when fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup.
However, when it comes to losing runs, both of those look amateurs compared to my selection SO BELOVED.
David O’Meara’s veteran hasn’t won since May 2016 and has now had over 40 attempts to get back into the winners’ enclosure.
As a result, he is now dangerously well-handicapped and lines up here off a mark of just 98 with Angus Villiers taking off another valuable 7lbs.
He is essentially racing off a mark of just 91.
When you consider he was last off the bridle when ninth in the Royal Hunt Cup back in June off a mark of 105, there are serious grounds for optimism.
The soft ground shouldn’t present any issues for him and he looks a sporting each-way play at a best-priced 18/1.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Wells Farhh Go e/w 2.35pm Ascot
So Beloved e/w 3.05pm Ascot
Hermosa 3.25pm Newmarket
Donjuan Triumphant e/w 3.40pm Ascot