It’s a brave man that ignores anything trained by Aidan O’Brien in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
The last Group 1 race of the UK Flat season has been won by O’Brien’s Ballydoyle operation on seven previous occasions. Past winners include the likes of Brian Boru, High Chaparral, St Nicholas Abbey and Camelot.
All four went on to glittering careers with the latter almost completing England’s triple crown in 2012 when beaten less than a length in the St Leger at Doncaster.
Only the Irish trainer will know if any of his three entries in this year’s Racing Post Trophy have been showing the same promise at home. But all three have already produced on the racecourse.
Port Douglas won the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last month under Emmet McNamara. Johannes Vermeer has already won a Group 3 at Leopardstown and was only beaten a length-and-a-half when fourth in the Grand Criterium at Longchamp at the start of this month but perhaps O’Brien’s best hope of an eighth victory lies with Deauville.
The trainer’s son Joseph takes the ride on the Galileo colt, who has entries in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas next year as well as the Epsom Derby. He won his first two at Listowel and Leopardstown but was put in his place behind Foundation in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket four weeks ago and John Gosden‘s unbeaten colt re-opposes on Town Moor.
Paddy Power are among several bookmakers offering best odds of Evens on Foundation in their Racing Post Trophy Betting – he was impressive despite racing freely at Newmarket. Deauville is 10/3 with the Dublin-based bookmaker but 7/2 in other places. There has been late money for Mengli Khan, however, with the Nottingham maiden winner now a best 9/1 with betway among others – the latter will give you a free bet equal to your stake if your selection finishes second and is beaten less than a length. Mengli Khan obviously has a lot to find on the evidence so far but the support is significant given that Hugo Palmer‘s stable has been in such good form lately.
2015 Racing Post Trophy Odds
Evens Foundation, 7/2 Deauville, 7/1 Johannes Vermeer, 8/1 Mengli Khan, 8/1 Tony Curtis, 20/1 Port Douglas, 40/1 Marcel.
