Monday 13 June 2016 5:45 pm

Horse racing betting: Hannon and Dettori set to plunder the Coventry with Mehmas

Sports Editor

Plenty of smart two-year-old colts have won the Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) in recent years and the most obvious starting point in looking to find the winner is trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle maestro saddles the unbeaten Caravaggio in his attempt to land the six-furlong prize for a record eighth time and it is clear to see why bookmakers make the son of Scat Daddy no bigger than 5/2.

He looked extremely smart when collaring the blaze-trailing Mister Trader at the Curragh last month and the step up in trip looks sure to suit.

In fact, the only thing that puts me off is the price as he is pretty skinny for one not bred to appreciate these soft conditions.

Fellow Irish raider Psychedelic Funk also brings an unbeaten record to Ascot and looked really good when last seen in action back in May.

The concern with him is that he suffered a setback before his prep run which is never ideal and the market may prove the best guide to his chances.

At the prices, I’m prepared to stick with leading English-trained hope MEHMAS ridden by the evergreen Frankie Dettori.

The Hannon team know how to ready one for this prize having won it in recent years with Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit.

Mehmas looked a bit special when beating Global Applause over this trip at Newbury two starts back and it was the drop back to five furlongs and a bad draw that cost him at Sandown last time.

The return to six is just what he needs and he can go well at 13/2 with Betway if handling the ground.

As for the others, I couldn’t help but be taken with the debut performance of Simon Crisford’s MOKARRIS at Haydock and I’ll definitely be having an each-way saver at double figure prices.

There was plenty of cut in the ground that day and he travelled and won in the style of a horse with a big future. He is definitely worth keeping on side.