The 2018 Joel Stakes betting tips given by Horsebetting.com say Regal Reality is worth a punt to land the spoils in the 1m Group 2 contest at Newmarket on Friday, 28 September, and further enhance trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s record in the race. Mustashry has been in fine form this season and feared most in the small but select five-runner field. Accidental Agent is a Group 1 winner who drops in grade, so is another with claims who cannot be ruled out. Read our in-depth 2018 Joel Stakes betting tips preview for more details.Regal Reality can rule again for Stoute in Joel StakesSir Michael Stoute is the leading trainer when it comes to the Joel Stakes, so Regal Reality looks to hold leading claims of providing him with another winner in the Group 2 contest over 1m at Newmarket on Friday (15:35). The Newmarket handler has won the race three-times courtesy of Sabotage (1989), Rob Roy (2005), and Confront (2009).
In Regal Reality, he has a lightly-raced and improving three-year-old colt who has won two of his four starts. During the last of those at Glorious Goodwood, he put in a taking display when landing the six-runner Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes.
After being held-up off the pace in fifth by Frankie Dettori, the son of Intello came with a surging late run down the outside of the field from the three marker to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths from Ostilio. The way in which he got the job done was visually impressive and the runner-up went into the contest in rude health having landed a brace of successes.
Regal Reality was well on top at the finish, and value for more than the winning margin, so it was a performance which suggested he would have plenty more to offer and needed keeping onside. Although only third last time out in the Group 3 Superior Mile at Haydock when sent off 2/1 joint-favourite, he raced too freely at the head of affairs on bottomless ground and was far from disgraced in being beaten just two lengths by mud-lover Here Comes When.
The return to a sounder surface is sure to suit and, as the sole three-year-old in the line-up, he receives a weight-for-age allowance from his four rivals. Given that Regal Reality is rated 109, and gets 9lb from the 116 top-rated Accidental Agent – who also has to shoulder a Group 1 penalty – it means that he comes out 2lb of that rival on adjusted ratings.
So, given his unexposed profile and the fact that inmates from the Stoute yard improve with experience, Regal Reality looks to have plenty going for him. Under crack jockey Ryan Moore, we had no hesitation in making him our main selection in these 2018 Joel Stakes betting tips.Thriving Mustashry the main dangerStoute also saddles Mustashry who comes into the race in terrific form. The five-year-old has won two of his three starts this season and has a terrific strike rate of 43 per cent having passed the post first in six of his 14 starts.
He is therefore feared most in what is a trappy five-runner affair where it is hard to completely rule out the chances of any. This son of Tamayuz, who carries the famous blue and white colours of leading owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, made a pleasing return to action back in July when staying on well having raced keenly in the early stages to beat Spark Plug by half-a-length in a Listed contest at Sandown.
Mustashry then ran a cracker in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York when headed close home and beaten just half-a-length by Lord Glitters. He has since resumed winning ways in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster when showing a really willing attitude to beat D’bai by a neck.
Having raced prominently throughout, Mustashry looked in trouble when challenged to from home. It was to his credit that he then dug deep and found plenty for jockey Jim Crowley’s urging to rally and get back up close home to score a shade cosily in the end.
Given that the 7f trip of the Park Stakes was on the sharp side for Mustashry, it was a fine effort. The step back up to 1m, over which he boasts a 30 per cent strike rates, is sure to suit, so a bold bid to follow-up looks assured. Class-dropping Accidental Agent another with claimsGiven that Accidental Agent has Group 1 winning form in the book and, now dropped in grade, is another with claims of landing the spoils. The Eve Johnson Houghton trained four-year-old ran really well when a staying on sixth of 14 to Rhododendron in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, before springing a 33/1 shock when landing the 15-runner Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After being held-up at the rear, the son of Delegator made stealthy headway a furlong from home and ran on strongly to beat Lord Glitters by half-a-length. He had subsequent Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner Lightning Spear a further neck back in third and some very useful performers in behind – including Beat The Bank who landed this 12 months ago.
That form sets a clear standard in this and nothing went right for Accidental Agent last time out when 10th of 11 to Alpha Centauri in a Group 1 at Deauville when awkwardly away and never able to get competitive as a result. This is easier but Accidental Agent has to give weight all-round and all his best form has come in big fields; so, on balance, he looks opposable and the Stoute pair make more appeal.Your Next Bet
