Horse Racing Betting – Cadeaux a More Than Hopeful Choice

The totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood is easily the most valuable race in England this weekend but the sponsors will be far from happy by the fact that only four runners were declared at the 48-hour stage, meaning betting interest will be minimal. So instead we’re going to concentrate on the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket, in which we at least are afforded the luxury of looking for a bit of each-way value – and that comes in the form of Mon Cadeaux. Most firms have priced up Andrew Balding‘s charge at 12/1 but in an eight-horse race in which you can only seriously give a chance to three quarters of the field, that’s simply too big. The Cadeaux Genereux colt has continually given the impression that he finds 7f stretching his stamina, his only decent effort at this distance being around Epsom two runs ago. But this stiff 6f on soft ground should be right up his street and bookmakers appear to have ignored his overall form, which has largely been achieved at a level above that of his rivals, concentrating instead on the rematch between Bated Breath and Dafeef. The latter (7/2 with Bet365, Paddy Power and Coral) came out on top when the pair clashed on similar ground in a handicap over C&D two weeks ago but Roger Charlton‘s colt is 3lb better off at the weights this time around and, considering he didn’t have much luck in running last time, it’s no surprise to see him installed at a general 7/4. What complicates the matter, however, is that Dafeef finished behind Rodrigo De Torres over 7f at the track in May and is no better off now. Taking that run as a guide, Henry Cecil‘s three-year-old may also be overpriced at the 13/2 with Paddy Power, Stan James and William Hill though the drop in distance is a slight worry. Doncaster Rover, also a general 13/2, is another that’s been plying his trade on a higher plain but he is getting a reputation as a horse who generally runs well but rarely wins. He was a little disappointing at Chester last time as well so we’re going to stick with Mon Cadeaux to bring home the bacon.

• Mon Cadeaux (Each Way) @ a general 12/1 for the Hopeful Stakes