Home / Horse Racing / Unbeaten Frankel Takes On Richard Hannon's Defending Champion

Sussex Stakes Odds: Frankel and Canford Cliffs set for Duel on the Downs

Rarely does a race live up to the level of ante-post hype the Sussex Stakes has received, but Wednesday's 'Duel on the Downs' looks worthy of its billing as 'the race of the season'. Frankel and defending champion Canford Cliffs have scared off their rivals, with just two others going to post for the one miler, and it is Frankel who edges favouritism.

Bookmaker William Hill have Frankel at 8/11 on as the unbeaten superstar bids to become the fourth successive 3-year-old winner of this Group One. Sir Henry Cecil's sensational 2000 Guineas champion receives a big 3-year-old allowance this week and that could just be what swings the race in Frankel's favour as he is set to weigh in at 8lbs less than his rivals.

Cecil believes Frankel has the potential to be the best horse he has ever trained as the colt bids to make it eight wins from eight at Glorious Goodwood this week. The 2000 Guineas winner destroyed the opposition from the front at Newmarket and has since had to work hard to win the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in less convincing fashion. Cecil has been coy on how Tom Queally will ride this potential great in the making, although he has said that it won't be another repeat of his front running blitz from Newmarket.

The defending Sussex Stakes champion, Canford Cliffs, on the other hand appears to have one way of achieving success, as the 4-year-old generally stays strongly before showing a blistering turn of foot. It is a tactic that has paid dividends for Richard Hannon as the colt is looking for a sixth successive Group One win since placing in last year's 2000 Guineas.

Canford Cliffs is available at industry best priced odds of 11/8 with WilliamHill.com and Hannon will be keen for a repeat of last year's glory when he edged out the talented Rip Van Winkle by a neck. Since then he has cemented his reputation as the leading older miler in Europe when beating the exceptional French mare, Goldikova, by a length in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

Hannon has claimed the winner of the 'Duel on the Downs' will be the best horse in the world and Frankel could just have the edge with Hannon voicing concerns over Canford Cliffs' dislike for coming down the Goodwood hill last year.

It would be disrespectful to not at least consider the other contenders in this race, although they do appear to face mammoth tasks to step up to the level required to challenge the two leading fancies.

Freddie Head's Rajsaman is priced 16/1 by Hills and the 4-year-old colt arrives on the back of a progressive couple of years The French raider was a Group Two winner over a mile earlier this year, and has since chased Goldikova home in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp.

The other entry is Godolphin's Rio De La Plata, who notched five wins during 2010, including a couple of Italian Group Ones. However, the 2007 Vintage Stakes winner was fourth to Canford Cliffs in the Queen Anne and it is difficult to see this 25/1 shot reversing a five length deficit.

It all looks set to be a two horse race and Frankel could well add to his burgeoning reputation with another win. Interestingly, Hills offer 9/2 for Frankel to win the Sussex Stakes and Breeders' Cup Mile during 2011, with the same price available on Canford Cliffs to achieve the feat.

Sussex Stakes Odds

8/11 Frankel
11/8 Canford Cliffs
16/1 Rajsaman
25/1 Rio De La Plata

Odds kindly provided by WilliamHill.com, who will have in-running markets for all races at the 2011 Glorious Goodwood Festival

Posted: Tuesday, 26th July 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: sussex stakes, frankel, canford cliffs, william hill,

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

	2011 Galway Plate Odds Bahrain Favourite To Storm To Victory At Ballybrit Plenty in with Chances in Galway Festival Blue Riband	26th Jul
	Gordon Stakes Odds Fiorente Heads The Betting For Goodwood Group Three Fiorente clipped in after Nathaniel's Ascot victory	25th Jul
	Lennox Stakes Odds Strong Suit Favourite For Opening Day Feature Richard Hannon boasts a strong hand for first day feature at Goodwood	25th Jul
	Molecomb Stakes Odds Requinto Could Provide Irish Cheer At Goodwood Crown Dependency heads the betting for Group Three dash	25th Jul
	King George VI Queen Elizabeth Stakes Odds Workforce Favourite For Ascot Epic St Nicholas Abbey, Rewilding and Nathaniel well backed for exciting Group One	22nd Jul

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