Go Dutch in Guineas market
With the Cheltenham Festival done and dusted for another year, thoughts inevitably turn to the upcoming Flat season.
Although the turf campaign kicks off at Newcastle on March 31, we still have to wait seven weeks before the class action really starts at the Stan James Guineas meeting.
However, now looks the ideal time to start weighing up the ante-post markets, particularly given the shock decision to retire leading 2000 Guineas hope Holy Roman Emperor to stud.
That decision from Coolmore saw Teofilo harden as favourite and Jim Bolger’s unbeaten performer is now a 6-4 chance with the race sponsor.
Undoubtedly impressive, Teofilo makes little appeal as ante-post value and it could pay to side with Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Dutch Art at this early stage.
The Medicean colt is also unbeaten in his four career starts and his form really does bear the closest scrutiny, having made a winning debut when beating subsequent Group One winner Simply Perfect at Windsor last June.
A Royal Ascot win soon followed before a first triumph at the highest level when claiming the Prix Morny – beating six previous and subsequent Group-race winners in the process.
Dutch Art then won a classy renewal of the Middle Park Stakes, demonstrating a relaxed attitude and ability to settle which could well help him stay a mile.
Chapple-Hyam’s charge has yet to tackle a trip in excess of six furlongs but his style of racing and the presence of some stamina in his pedigree offer every hope of staying the distance.
At a stand-out 8-1 with William Hill, Dutch Art must rate a decent bet for those not keen to lump on a short-priced favourite.
Bolger not only has Teofilo to look forward to, as his Finsceal Beo also tops the market for the 1000 Guineas.
Again, his filly looks plenty short enough at 5-2 with Coral and it is 16-1 shot Miss Beatrix who looks an outstanding proposition at present.
Kevin Prendergast’s charge saw plenty of racing last year and many view that as a negative factor for a Classic contender, especially as she was beaten on more than one occasion.
However, her third place behind Holy Roman Emperor at big odds in the Phoenix Stakes looks fine form and she built on that with success in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Miss Beatrix’s final start came in the seven-furlong Goffs Million at the Curragh and she showed all the right attributes when staying well for a one-and-a-quarter-length win over Regime.
That race is particularly interesting though as Finsceal Beo was beaten nearly four lengths back in third – racing off level weights.
Finsceal Beo probably improved from that effort and she was drawn on the supposed unfavoured side but in all honesty, she did not beat much in her final two starts last year.
Therefore, Miss Beatrix must represent real value at 16-1 with William Hill and Ladbrokes.
Even an each-way wager should yield a decent return.
