Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Darley Stakes betting tips for the Group 3 contest that closes the Future Champions Festival and Cesarewitch day card at Newmarket. Awesometank is strongly fancied to land the spoils in this 1m 1f race for trainer William Haggas on Saturday, 13 October. Fellow three-year-old Gabr is feared most for Sir Michael Stoute and Jim Crowley. Euginio, meanwhile, is one to consider backing each-way. Our 2018 Darley Stakes betting tips preview has more on these horses’ hopes.Awesometank taken to deliver in DarleyTrainer William Haggas still has his team in fine fettle and the Yorkshire handler is double-handed in a bid to win the 1m 1f Group 3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket for the second time on Saturday (17:25). Ready preference of his pair is for Awesometank, who is clear of her eight rivals on adjusted ratings and thus makes most appeal to win the final race on Cesarewitch day.
The three-year-old daughter of Intense Focus has won four of her 10 starts and gone close when runner-up at this level in both her last two outings. Awesometank scored at the fourth time of asking last season when landing a 7f handicap on this course when just holding Clubbable by a short-head.
She then followed-up in another class 2 handicap at York when tackling a mile for the first time and keeping on well under pressure to score by a neck. It was another good performance and connections pitched her into Listed company off the back of it back here at headquarters on Awesometank’s final start of the campaign.
Although fourth over the Rowley Mile, she was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths and got the black type her performance in those handicaps suggested she was capable of on her second start of this season. After making a winning reappearance on the all-weather at Chelmsford, Awesometank delivered again in the Coral Distaff on Eclipse day at Sandown when making all and beating York specialist Desert Diamond by three-quarters of a length.
A crack at Group 3 level for the first time followed at the Esher venue on her penultimate start. While Awesometank was headed two out, she kept on well to press the winner and just held on for second close home as a 1 1/4 length runner-up to Veracious.
She was then sent over to France and different tactics were employed. Awesometank was held-up in midfield, took closer order two out and ridden to chase the leaders before the final furlong where she briefly took it up.
When headed, she rallied really gamely under plenty of pressure to snatch second in the last 100 yards. It was another creditable effort and Awesometank went down fighting by 1 1/4 lengths, so that’s further evidence which suggests she’s well worth another try at this level.
As she receives weight-for-age and/or a sex allowance from all but stable companion Beshaayir, who is rated 5lb inferior, the race terms are entirely in her favour. It’s for that reason, and champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa taking the ride for the first time, that Awesometank is our main fancy among these 2018 Darley Stakes betting tips.Gabr a dangerIntello colt Gabr has a 67 per cent win and place career strike rate and also been far from disgraced at Group 1 level, so the Sir Michael Stoute trained three-year-old is feared most under regular rider Jim Crowley. Two of his four seconds have come on the July course here and he won on his third start as a juvenile to set up a crack at the Racing Post Trophy.
Given Gabr was thrown right in at the deep end over this trip, finishing fifth to subsequent 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior when beaten just over five lengths was a respectable effort. That suggested there were races to be won with him this season, and he was then a three-quarters of a length runner-up to another Group 1 hero in Without Parole on reappearance in the Heron Stakes at Sandown.
Pitched back in to elite company, Gabr was beaten less than six lengths by the same rival in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. An ease in grade then saw him go closer to that elusive victory when a late snatching second at Listed level here in July.
Gabr was an out of sorts fourth and beaten 9 1/2 lengths in a similar grade affair Pontefract on his penultimate start, so connections gave him a break to freshen up. That proved a wise decision as he then resumed winning ways at Goodwood when staying on well and always doing enough over 1m 2f to score by three-quarters of a length.
The fact he stays a furlong further than this could be a valuable asset if stamina comes into play. As Gabr is racing off the same mark as Awesometank, but having to give her a 3lb sex allowance, he is respected now on the upgrade but taken on off those terms.Euginio worth a go each-wayIn a race where there is likely to be lively each-way betting interest, Euginio appeals more than most on the revised terms he meets Forest Ranger off here from his reappearance run when third over course and distance. Trained by Richard Hannon, this four-year-old son of Fastnet Rock was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths in third off level weights in the similar grade Earl Of Sefton Stakes back in April.
Euginio was held-up in touch and, although outpaced, stayed on well to make the frame. The front three pulled a further 3 1/2 lengths clear to give the form a solid look, but he now meets the winner on 5lb better terms and the difference in their ratings is 3lb here instead of 6lb then, leaving him 2lb well-in.
Treating Euginio on the pick of his form, and he has run several other solid races in defeat this season before landing a class 2 conditions contest Doncaster, he has strong claims of reversing the Forest Ranger form. After finishing a three-length runner-up to Mirage Dancer in a Listed contest at Sandown, he was beaten just a length in consecutive races at that level – the first of which saw him outrun a 33/1 SP to chase home Monarchs Glen, who won this last year, in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot
Although then not so good when last in a Group 2 at York and then when eased to Listed level at Windsor, Euginio still delivered at Doncaster during the St Leger Festival before running in a hot Newbury Group 3 when a 4 3/4 lengths fifth to Young Rascal. With Hayley Turner now taking the ride, he makes our 2018 Darley Stakes betting tips as an each-way play.Your Next Bet
