Horse Racing Betting Tips: O’Brien’s Wichita can give Pinatubo a true test in the Dewhurst Stakes
NEWMARKET takes centre stage again tomorrow with all eyes on Godolphin’s Pinatubo as he bids to make it a perfect six out of six in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (3.30pm).
The son of Shamardal landed the first Group One of his career in last month’s National Stakes at the Curragh by a breathtaking nine lengths and is no bigger than 1/3 to round off his season with another top-flight success.
He seems to be improving with every start and has at least a stone in hand on all of his rivals according to official ratings.
Bookmakers already have him as the red-hot favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, with only Ladbrokes of the major firms offering odds-against at 5/4.
However, at the prices, I’d far rather take him on each-way with Aidan O’Brien’s WICHITA at around the 4/1 mark.
He took a giant step forward from defeat at Doncaster just over four weeks ago to rout his rivals in the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes here last time.
Admittedly, he needs to step up again dramatically to ruffle the favourite’s feathers, but he is definitely on the upgrade and we may not have seen the best of him yet.
The fact that he handles the track is another huge positive and Pinatubo will be having his first experience of Newmarket tomorrow.
They are both two hugely exciting juveniles and I am prepared to gamble on the fact that the market may be exaggerating Pinatubo’s dominance of the division.
Ryan Moore could be in for a good day as he is booked to ride the exciting ASCENSION for Roger Varian in the opening nursery (1.45pm).
The son of Dark Angel should relish the recent rain and was an impressive winner on similar ground at Salisbury back in August.
Stepping up to this seven-furlong trip is another big positive and there is every chance that his opening handicap mark of just 87 may be a tad lenient.
The big betting race of the afternoon is the Emirates Cesarewitch Stakes (4.10pm), which once again sees a maximum field of 31 battle it out over 2m2f.
Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins saddled the first two home 12 months ago and once again has a very strong hand with the favourite Buildmeupbuttercup.
She was second in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting back in June and has run well in Ireland twice since.
Frankie Dettori takes the ride and she is bound to come in for more support.
She is 7lbs higher in the weights than at Ascot and it wouldn’t surprise me if Great White Shark, another of his runners, fared a little better.
Sir Mark Prescott has two big chances with Land Of Oz and Timoshenko, but both have been well found in the market.
Ranch Hand is another who has halved in price this week and will surely be a factor if he stays the trip.
With an unsettled forecast, I’m going to give another each-way chance to old friend COEUR DE LION at a whopping 28/1.
Alan King’s six-year-old never landed a blow in this race last year, but the ground would have been far too lively.
He seems in much better form a year on and with rain in the air, he looks the value call in what is a wide-open race.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Ascension 1.45pm Newmarket
Wichita e/w 3.30pm Newmarket
Coeur de Lion e/w 4.10pm Newmarket