Sport

Mid-week Betting Tips: Arabian Comet well-placed for success at York

Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the week's odds

WEDNESDAY

YORK

2-30 TATTERSALLS ACOMB STAKES (GROUP 3) – 7 FURLONGS

Jamaica showed significant and natural improvement to win a maiden with relative ease at Galway last month for Aiden and Joseph O’Brien. Whilst this shall take another step forward he is certainly housed at the right yard for them to unleash further potential.

Ballydoyle last won this race with Ernest Hemingway back in 2000 and likewise he won a maiden at Galway before taking this. Being a son of Galileo he is bred to get much further than this in time and he should be right in the mix.

Balsateen shed his maiden at Doncaster with the minimum of fuss and dispatched the likes of Mulzamm and Best Dressed by well over eight lengths. He too is based at a yard that is blessed with juvenile talent and he has to be high on the list of dangers.

Growl won on debut for Brian Meehan at Ascot last month and the form of the race has already been franked by Flash Fire. He too can step up on what he has shown so far and can make the frame. Jamaica looks the type to improve further and he can get the Irish off to a great start at this meeting.

3-40 JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES (GROUP 1) – 1 M 2 F 88YDS

Australia bids to follow up both of his Derby wins with a smooth success here on the Knavesmire. Joseph O’ Brien has worked tirelessly to do the weight on this three year old and that self-discipline can be rewarded in the feature race. Ballydoyle have won this race no fewer than four times since the turn of the century and it will be of no great surprise to see them win a fifth here.

Telescope was put firmly in his place by Taghrooda at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. She seemed to expose the flaws in his armour and Joseph O’ Brien will be keen to do so with his mount. There is just a niggling doubt that Telescope has the right amount of scope to win a group one race and he is passed over for that reason.

Mukhadram was only just touched off for second by Telescope in that last race. Now that they return to Mukhadram’s favourite trip it would come as little surprise to see that form reversed and he could be a bigger danger. It is unlikely that we have as yet seen the best from Australia and he can have a massive say in matters here.

THURSDAY

YORK

4-20 SIR HENRY CECIL & EBF GALTRES STAKES (FILLES LISTED) – 1 M 4 F

Arabian Comet found the step up to a mile and six furlongs slightly beyond her reach last time and she had to settle for second place behind the now retired Missunited at Glorious Goodwood. She is still only a three year old and she had older more experienced filles and mares finish in behind her on that last run such as the re-opposing Waila, Talent and Nymphea. That suggests that she is a classy sort and now dropped back down to a more reasonable trip, she has to firmly enter calculations.

Noble Protector has been in the form of her life of late. She has won two of her last three starts for Stuart Kittow including in listed company at Newmarket. If turning out in the same sort of form she is likely to put up the biggest opposition to the selection.

Stella Bellissima was firmly put in her place by Arabian Comet last time and that is likely to be the case once again. William Haggas has an excellent record with his runners at York and Arabian Comet can go close to winning this valuable prize.

FRIDAY

YORK

1-55 SKYBET TRANSFER FUND STAKES HANDICAP – 1 M 4 F

Gabrial The Hero has finally started to fulfil the promise that he showed a couple of seasons ago by also winning two races on the bounce. His wins came at Newmarket and Doncaster and although they were in a lower grade than this, he is clearly in the form of his career. Jamie Spencer gets on well with the Marwan Koukash owned gelding and they look set to play a major role here.

Tim Easterby trained runners always command plenty of respect at this meeting and Dance King showed that he was no back number by landing a similar event at Pontefact last time out. If he can handle the step back up in trip he looks a big danger.

Mister Fizz has run well in his two previouos visits to the Knavesmire and with George Downing taking a useful five pounds off his back the duo ought to make the frame yet again. David Simcock has his string in good form and Gabrial The Hero can go close to giving him another win at York.