The 2018 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say St Leger runner-up Lah To Dar is a worthy favourite to land the spoils for trainer John Gosden. Her stablemate Coronet has some very strong form in the book, so is feared most in the Group 1 contest over 1m 4f on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, October 20. Magical, meanwhile, looks the pick of six saddled by Aidan O’Brien and makes plenty of each-way appeal following an eye-catching Arc de Triomphe run. Our in-depth 2018 Champions Fillies & Stakes betting tips preview has full details on these horses’ chances.Lah Ti Dar a worthy favourite for Champions Fillies & Mares gloryLah Ti Dar looks to hold outstanding claims of providing trainer John Gosden with a second winner of the 1m 4f Group 1 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday (14:40). This daughter of Dubawi won her first three starts in sensational style and lost little in defeat last time out when runner-up in the St Leger.
The beautifully three-year-old showed that she handled testing conditions when landing a 14-runner maiden at Newbury back in April by six lengths. After being produced to take up the running at the furlong marker by jockey Frankie Dettori, she stretched effortlessly clear to score with tons in hand.
Lah Ti Dar then took the step up into Listed company in her stride when landing the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket when powering clear inside the last to beat Expressly by 3 1/4 lengths. It was a performance which marked her out as hugely exciting top-notch prospect destined for Group 1 glory.
However, injury ruled her out of the the Oaks at Epsom – for which she had been ante post favourite – and resulted in Lah Ti Dar spending 109 days on the sidelines. Gosden duly gave her plenty of time to recover and his patience was rewarded when she totally tore apart the opposition in the Listed 1m 4f Galtres Stakes at York and effortlessly beat Light Of Joy by 10 lengths.
It was a visually stunning display and one which saw Lah Ti Dar sent off the 7/4 favourite for last month’s St Leger over 1m 6f at Doncaster. Although beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Kew Gardens, she ran a stormer in defeat. After being held-up well off the pace she showed signs of inexperience in the final Classic of the season, coming off and on the bridle at several stages. It was therefore to her credit that she stayed on strongly up the home straight to snatch second spot.
Lah Ti Dar simply wasn’t streetwise enough against a battle-hardened winner who was given a peach of a ride by Ryan Moore and perfectly positioned throughout. In the circumstances it was a performance which could be upgraded and the drop back to 1m 4f, over which Lah To Dar is one from one, is a plus.
Her dam Dar Re Mi was also three from three on ground softer than good, so there are no negatives as regards the going for Lah Ti Dar, who is also officially the top rated in the line-up off 115 and receives a handy 6lb weight-for-age allowance from French raider Kitesurf – the closest to her off 114.
So, with the prospect of more to come assured, Lah Ti Dar’s claims are crystal clear and she looks a worthy favourite to get back to winning ways. We therefore had to make her the main selection in our 2018 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes betting tips.Coronet another Gosden inmate with claimsGosden also has a strong second string to his bow in the shape of Coronet. This four-year-old is a consistent and tough sort who has won four of her 13 career starts and made the frame on five occasions. She also ran well in this 12 months ago when third and has posted some very solid efforts this season, so is feared most.
After making a winning return to action in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York, this other daughter of Dubawi ran a cracker when going down by just a short-head to top class French colt Waldgeist, who finished a fine close-up fourth in the Arc behind Enable earlier in the month, in the Group 1 Prix De Saint-Cloud.
Coronet then ran slightly below par when a 9 1/4 lengths third to Poet’s Word in the Group 1 King George over this course and distance, but got back on track last time out when chasing home Sea Of Class in a Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire. Although she was unable to match the winner’s potent turn of foot, Coronet stuck to the task well to be beaten just over two lengths.
Given that Sea Of Class is a filly of the highest order who had previously landed the Irish Oaks and has since been beaten just a short-head by Enable in the Arc, it gives the form a really solid look. A repeat if that effort is sure to see Coronet go close in this.
She faces no easy task giving Lah Ti Dar a 6lb weight-for-age allowance, but is sure to give it her best shot and looks the most likely one to pick up the pieces should that rival fails to live up to expectations. Coronet is thus respected, but worth taking on with her younger stable companion.Magical looks just the trick each-wayBallydoyle handler Aidan O’Brien launches a six-pronged attack on the race in a bid to land back-to-back runnings. They include last year’s winner Hydrangea, but it looks significant that jockey Ryan Moore has chosen Magical over her and she thus makes plenty of each-way appeal as a result following an eye-catching run last time out.
That came in the Arc where, after being held-up well at the rear of the 19-strong field. the three-year-old daughter of Galileo kept on steadily down the wide outside to be nearest at the finish and beaten just over five lengths into 10th by wonder filly Enable.
Given how the race panned out it was a terrific effort, and Magical had previously shaped well when a three-length fourth to Laurens following a break in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown when badly hampered at a crucial stage. She appears to be building up to a big performance and, with those two runs under her belt, should now be spot on to do herself justice.
Magical also has some very smart form to her name as a juvenile and has proven winning form on soft ground. She is also rated just 4lb below Lah Ti Dar and comes out second best in the 11-runner line-up on adjusted ratings. So, at the odds on offer, Magical had to feature as the each-way punt in our 2018 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes betting tips.Your Next Bet
