Horse Racing Betting Tips: Bangkok set to pass Classic Trial
IN JUST over a month’s time, the very best of this season’s three-year-old crop will assemble on Epsom Downs for the Investec Derby.
Late April is therefore a time for sorting the wheat from the chaff and this afternoon’s 1m2f bet365 Classic Trial (3.00pm) may provide us with some further Derby clues.
Granted, this race is very unlikely to give us a glimpse of this year’s Derby winner – the last horse to do so was Shahrastani back in 1986 – but some of these colts may end up being good enough to compete at that level.
One of those could be Alfaatik for trainer John Gosden.
The son of Sea The Stars turned over odds-on stablemate Pianissimo in a hot-looking maiden on the all-weather at Chelmsford on his debut, despite trying his best not to win the race.
He was slowly away, ran very green and idled in front, but still managed to be first past the post and should come on a lot for the run.
He holds an entry in the Derby, as well as next month’s Dante at York, and is one for the shortlist coming from a yard that has picked up this Group Three prize a record nine times.
Mark Johnston’s Persian Moon has the potential to improve for this step up in trip but is yet to show that element of class, while Technician, a stoutly-bred son of Mastercraftsman, won well over a furlong and a half further last time and may find this on the sharp side.
Despite not setting the world alight as a two-year-old, BANGKOK has showed plenty of promise in his three starts in red-hot maiden company and made no mistake on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last month.
He cruised past the leaders to hit the front in the home straight and appeared to win with plenty in hand.
The second and fourth have both come out and won since and he looks like making great strides this season, with a tilt at the Derby not out of the question if he proves his class today.
The 7/4 about a horse that is held in very high regard by the Andrew Balding yard is not to be sniffed at.
The same connections will be hoping for a big run from Beat The Bank in the following Group Two bet365 Mile (3.35pm).
He’s a very consistent type who’s won three times at this level and should be there or thereabouts.
Last year’s winner Addeybb also lines up and warrants plenty of respect.
He’d prefer a bit more cut in the ground, though, and others are preferred.
SHARJA BRIDGE, an impressive winner of the Doncaster Mile on good ground last month, looks the one to beat.
It took him some time to find his feet last season, but he eventually put it all together to land the valuable Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day at Ascot and looks capable of plundering a few decent prizes this term.
The Varian stable is firing in the winners at the moment and he looks a good bet to continue the yard’s great form at 9/4 with Ladbrokes.
POINTERS TODAY
Bangkok 3.00pm Sandown
Sharja Bridge 3.35pm Sandown