Home / Horse Racing / Tactician Runs For The Queen

Doncaster Cup Odds: Dettori a good bet onboard Opinion Poll

Friday's highlight at the St Leger meeting at Doncaster Racecourse is the Stobart Doncaster Cup. This Group 2 marathon is run over two miles and three furlongs and is a real stamina test for those horses entered. Just eight runners are set to go to post, with question marks over the bottom two in the betting. The Godolphin trained Opinion Poll heads matters at the other end of the market and is likely to be sent off the short priced favourite. Bookmaker Ladbrokes go 13/8 about Franki Dettori's mounts chances.

Five year old Opinion Poll goes in search of a three-timer here following a win in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup last time out following up on a win in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup at the Glorious meeting in July. Trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni, the favourite shouldn't have any stamina dounts finishing second behind Fame And Glory in the Ascot Gold Cup at Royal Ascot earlier in the season. You have to think he has a good chance here.

Sir Mark Prescott trains the second favourite Motrice at odds of 4/1 with Ladbrokes. The four year old also has a Goodwood win to his name, albeit in Listed company where he breezed to a four and a half length win over Eternal Heart last time out. Prior to that run, the filly finished third behind Meeznah in the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, the horse winning Thursday's Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Beaten eighteen lengths behind Fame And Glory in the Ascot Gold Cup she has fifteen lengths to make up on the market leader here on that effort. She'll be getting six pounds in weight allowance for Friday's race but still it looks unlikely for a reversal of form here.

John Oxx was successful with Alanza in the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes on Thursday at this meeting, his first runner in Britain this season. His second is co third favourite Saddler's Rock at odds of 5/1 with Ladbrokes. The three year old makes his first appearance on these shores following a decent campaign over in Ireland. Third last time out in an Irish St Leger trial at the Curragh, he'd won his previous two outings, a maiden and a handicap at Tipperary and Leopardstown respectively. The trip is a bit of an unknown as he's not run further than one mile, six furlongs under rules, so you'd be taking a bit of a chance on backing him here.

The Queen had to settle for second place on Thursday, as her filly Set To Music was the beaten favourite behind Meeznah in the Park Hill Stakes. She has another crack at a Group 2 win here with her 5/1 shot Tactician, trained by Michael Bell. The gelding has been running in handicap company all season but did well to win the John Smith's Silver Cup at York on his last but one appearance and followed that up with a solid second in the Ebor. He's another who has to prove himself at this trip but if he continues to improve he could go well here.

Further down the betting are Bergo at 9/1 and Blue Bajan at 12/1. Gary Moore takes his chances with eight year old Bergo, who has returned to racing on the flat this season following a pretty successful period as a chaser. He finished third and fifth in behind the favourite Opinion Poll on his last two starts with decent efforts and could go well at bigger odds than most of his rivals. Nine year old Blue Bajan is a doudy stayer who just seems to have gone off the boil of late. Another who splits his time between the flat and the jumps scene, he does have a Group 2 win to his name this season, albeit back in May when he looked much brighter.

Connections have said 16/1 chance Tastahil will only run if the ground is suitable, whilst 50/1 chance Dayia needs sufficient rain if she is to take her place in the race.

Doncaster Cup Odds

13/8 Opinion Poll
4/1 Motrice
5/1 Saddler's Rock
5/1 Tactician
9/1 Bergo
12/1 Blue Bajan
16/1 Tastahil
50/1 Dayia

Odds supplied by Ladbrokes.com, offering best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse racing.

Posted: Thursday, 8th September 2011
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: doncaster cup, frankie dettori, st leger meeting, ladbrokes,

10 Latest Horse-racing Articles

	Height Of Fashion Stakes Odds Goodwood hosts Listed Oaks Trial Coquet And Gathering Head The Betting	23rd May
	Bonfire clipped in the latest Epsom Derby betting following key trial win 2000 Guineas Winner Camelot Remains Favourite	21st May
	Lockinge Stakes Odds Frankel all the rage in betting on seasonal reappearance Sir Henry Cecils Stable Star Long Odds On At Newbury	18th May
	Yorkshire Cup Odds Red Cadeaux heads the Group Two betting Harris Tweed Could Provide Value At York	17th May
	Middleton Stakes Odds Izzi Top Likely Favourite in Close Betting Race at York I	16th May
	Dante Stakes Odds Bonfire Set to Light Up York in Derby Trial Mandaean And Ernest Hemingway Also Being Backed	16th May
	Duke of York Stakes Odds Hoof It and Mayson Dispute Favouritism Ahead of York First Day Feature Restiadargent Looks Good Bet For Each Way Backers	15th May
	Musidora Stakes Odds The Fugue Should Start Favourite for Oaks Trial at York Twirl The Big Danger From Ballydoyle	15th May
	Betfred Victoria Cup Odds Lightning Cloud Can Strike for Kevin Ryan 24 Go To Post For Ascot Feature	11th May
	Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes Betting Wrote favourite for Ballydoyle Aidan O'Brien Has Won Five Of The Last Six Renewals	11th May

Archive - Previous 5 Horse Racing Articles

	Irish Field St Leger Tips Fictional Account Can Claim More Fame And Glory Times Up Could be the one for Each Way Backers at the Curragh	7th Sep
	Park Hill Stakes Odds Queens Horse Set To Music Heads Betting Meeznah and Sense Of Purpose main rivals	7th Sep
	Sceptre Stakes Odds Irish Raider Alanza Heads The Betting For Doncaster Group 3 Sir Henry Cecil has claims with Chachamaidee	7th Sep
	Scarbrough Stakes Odds Captain Dunne Can Win Listed Contest At Leger Meeting Medicean Man heads betting at Doncaster	6th Sep
	2011 St Leger Odds Blue Bunting A Good Bet For Frankie Dettori Sea Moon heads the betting for Sir Michael Stoute	5th Sep

Headline News

	England V West Indies 2nd Test Odds Hosts Start Hot Favourites At Trent Bridge Tempting Odds For Ian Bell To Score A Century
	2012 BMW PGA Championship Tips Ben Curtis A Good Bet To Score On English Soil Again McDowell And Fraser Also Fancied To Do Well
	Crowne Plaza Invitational Odds Zach Johnson Heads The Betting At Colonial David Toms Returns To Defend His Title In Texas
	Height Of Fashion Stakes Odds Goodwood Hosts Listed Oaks Trial Coquet And Gathering Head The Betting
	Second Eurovision Semi Final Odds Graham Norton Gets Prepares To Poke Fun

£250 Free Bet - Paddypower

BRAND NEW £250 free bets offer.

Open a new account with Paddy Power and place an initial bet of between £10 and £50
Paddy Power will match this with a free bet to the same stake
Paddy Power then let you repeat this a further four times to allow you to claim a maximum of £250 in free bets.

Open Account - Free £250 Bets With Paddypower