Here is our pick of the international horse racing scene for Thursday, 26th March 2020, including our tips. All race times listed are GMT.
Vaal 11:15 Race Odds & Tips
Zuluonmystoep 5/4
Great Esteem 13/2
Duke Of Abercorn 7/1
Sun Giant 7/1
Pacific Dream 8/1
El Romiachi 9/1
Bend The Knee 16/1
Wylie The Great 16/1
City Deep 20/1
Eightintheeighth 25/1
Smart Deal 33/1
Hold Your Horses 33/1
Fort Alado 50/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Zuluonymystoep is the outright favourite for this opening action from Vaal, South Africa on Thursday. It is a maiden plate.
He was sixth at course and distance in January, but only four lengths back of the winner in a maiden plate. An in-form jockey and trainer helps his cause.
However, in this 1m trip, the favourite may be worth taking on.
Great Esteem ran above his odds last time out, landing a second-place finish from 30/1 in a markedly improved run. If he continues that upward swing then he has every chance in this one of pushing for the victory.
That runners up finish was at Vaal and he has to be taken seriously as a major contender from 13/2* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
Four-year-old Sun Giant warrants a look in this one as well as a contender. He was last out at Turffontein a couple of months ago, taking 7th of 12 in a maiden plate. However, the last time trainer and jockey teamed up on Sun Giant was in March this year when they took second at Turffontein, edged out by only one length.
With trainer Mike de Kock having gone 2-13 in the last 14 days, Sun Giant should have a chance from 7/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
Vaal 14:55 Race Odds & Tips
Akwaan 11/4
Waqaas 4/1
War Jewel 7/1
Top Rank 7/1
What A Story 8/1
Liberado 12/1
Category Four 12/1
Podcast 14/1
Street Flyer 14/1
Father Time 14/1
Revelation 16/1
Bouncing Tigger 25/1
Private Ruler 25/1
City dancer 25/1
Jackman 28/1
Trip To Paradise 28/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Race outright favourite Akwaan landed a good win at the venue and he steps into his first handicap venture for this one. He looks to be in with a strong chance of being in the frame for the contest.
His last race did see him beat a couple of very strong players including Samurai Jack, which made the success even better. He is heading the market at 11/4
The question for racing betting is can he be opposed at Vaal on Thursday?
Waqaas looks the most likely but the four-year-old has a terrible draw out wide and will have some work to do. He was a beaten favourite over course and distance on his last trip.
However, a drop-down in the weights has to be a major factor for his chance now at a lower grade race too and is a 4/1 quote* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
Father Time and War Jewel both look to have some decent outsider claims in this race as well. For an e/w poke in the Vaal racing betting, Podcast may appeal as he has been well treated in this one.
He had a decent trip at the venue less than 40 days ago where he was beaten by just under four lengths. At the 14/1 mark, Podcast can get in this based on past efforts* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
Gulfstream Park 18:00 Race Odds & Tips
Ohanzee 2/1
Island Song 5/1
Annualized 6/1
Guaco 7/1
Imperial Guard 13/2
With A Bit Of Luck 10/1
Storm The Bridge 10/1
Sultannes Crown 10/1
By Chance 14/1
Oroscopo 16/1
Three Hombres 16/1
Cool Hand Coop 14/1
Awesome Enough 16/1
Bigs Gray Day 25/1
Tortola Pride 25/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
The race favourite is Ohanzee and by some distance as well to come up with the success in this Maiden 5f trip on the turf at Gulfstream. He goes as the 2/1 favourite* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
Ohanzee has been knocking on the door with three places from just four starts. His last run was over course and distance just last month when he was second in a field of eighteen. He has every chance of breaking his maiden. Trainer Jane Cibelli has struck 3-5 in the last fourteen days as well and is hot at the moment.
Dropping down the field for a big 16/1 each-way option we come to Oroscopo who has taken four place finishes in 14 starts* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
He was fourth on his last trip over course and distance just last month in good conditions. Oroscopo may just be a little underrated in this one and has some nice outsider appeal at those odds.
We see a decent enough chance for Annualized here with Luis Saez in the saddle. From Annualized’s three previous starts he has placed once. He was well out of the frame on a 6f trip at Gulfstream last month.
But has since switched stables to team up with Saffie A Joseph Jr who is hot with a 3-7 return in the last fourteen days. The switch may well have sharpened him up and is a 6/1 option* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
Golden Gate Fields 21:45 Race Odds & Tips
Aotearoa 2/1
Malibu Alex 9/2
Independent Indy 9/2
Bold ROman 9/2
Stocked 5/1
Melchior 8/1
Drizzy 16/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
This is a 6f claiming race on the all-weather tapeta at Golden Gate Fields in the USA. It’s only a field of seven and leading the market of those is Aotearoa who has won eight times between 5f and 1m. He brings winning form to the race as well as having scored as the 6/5 favourite at the venue on a 5f trip just last month.
Nine-year-old Aotearoa, who is the oldest competitor in the race, has every chance of scoring again* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
This is a small enough field where even the outsiders have some relatively decent claims and outsider Drizzy looks superb e/w value at 16/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020).
There have been four wins between 5f and 1m for him before and although he was out of the picture in 4th of 6 at Golden Gate Fields in January on the 1m trip, in this kind of company he is well worth considering.
Stocked is another we like the look of who goes from a 5/1 mark* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 21:40 GMT on Wednesday, 25th March 2020). He has genuine stronger winning claims than Drizzy at least. Stocked has scored four times between a narrower band of 5f to 6f.
Stocked wasn’t far out of the picture in a smaller field at the venue last month on a 5f trip. He has every chance of a place in this one.
