In this regular Monday segment, racing expert Scott Armstrong rounds up all the action of note from this weekend’s racing for SBC Blog readers.
It was a great day for punters on Saturday when the very well backed Camelot justified his odds-on price with a mightily impressive win in the Racing Post Trophy. Scott examines his Derby credentials, where he is now 7-2 favourite and highlights a number of other horses and trainers to note from the weekend.
Money spoke volumes in the Racing Post Trophy as the once-raced Camelot was hammered in to odds-on at the off, winning easily by two-and-a-quarter lengths and making the 10-11 SP look extremely generous. Ladbrokes famously have a line on the Aidan O’Brien stable and in the lead up to the race they went odds on with Camelot while other bookmakers were odds against. O’Brien said after the race “The boys (in the yard) were saying that Camelot’s work was so exceptional it was hard to believe. In comparison to other horses his data was incredible”. Unfortunately for punters, O’Brien was typically reticent about such news before the race itself.
Camelot is now a best-priced 7-2 Derby favourite. Racing needs new heroes during the current dark climate surrounding the sport and let’s hope Camelot can champion racing’s cause. At those odds though he is not a Derby betting proposition and opens the door for any each-way fancies as the rest of the market are 20-1 and bigger.
Another impressive weekend performer on the level was three-year-old Beaten Up who scorched home by four-and-a-half-lengths in the Group 3 St Simon Stakes. Still looking babyish on the track, Beaten Up pulled hard, refusing to settle and once that issue has been ironed out he can have a big future as a four-year-old.
Master Minded made his seasonal reappearance in the Old Roan Chase but the National Hunt big gun was shot down by Alberta’s run. This was a very lacklustre performance from Master Minded and his jumping wasn’t up to scratch. Master Minded now has a lot to prove if he is to trouble Long Run in the King George VI Chase. Alberta’s Run had to scrap to defeat Pure Faith the outsider of the three runner field. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill will target Alberta’s Run at the Ryanair Chase next March but age may count against him in the New Year when he will become a veteran of 11 with the young bucks lining up to take him on.
The smartest performer over the jumps at the weekend was Fingal Bay who destroyed a Class 1 field in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow. Phillip Hobbs horse looked special with his slick jumping and cruising speed and will next be seen in the two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham’s Paddy Power meeting in two weeks time. Fingal Bay also earned quotes of 14-1 for the Albert Barlett at the Cheltenham festival.
One horse who can win next time out is It’s A Gimme who was second in a Class 4 Maiden Hurdle to a very game winner – Hazy Tom. Under a strong AP McCoy drive, the juvenile It’s A Gimme just failed to get home and he can gain compensation next time out.
In the forthcoming week keep a close eye on any runners from the Charlie Longsdon and Evan Williams stables as both are operating at a 30% plus strike-rate recently.
Scott is one of the key contributors to our SBC Winter Racing Annual, where he is providing his weekly Horses to Follow list exclusively to its purchasers from next week. Featuring 50+ Horses To Follow from proven experts, you can find more details here: https://smartbettingclub.com/WinterAnnual/