Get Lancashire Oaks betting tips on Horsebetting.com for the 1m 4f Group 2 fillies’ and mares’ contest at Haydock on Saturday, 7 July. Horseplay sets a clear standard for this year’s renewal, while course and distance winner God Given may give her most to think about. Precious Ramotswe, meanwhile, represents a stable with big history in this race and looks the each-way value. Learn more in our 2018 Lancashire Oaks betting tips preview.Lancashire Oaks looks Horseplay for BaldingHorseplay is 3lb and upwards clear on official ratings of the seven-strong field in this year’s 1m 4f Group 2 Lancashire Oaks on Saturday, so Andrew Balding’s filly holds leading claims of landing this big race at Haydock (13:10).
Four-year-olds have a tremendous recent record in this contest and Horseplay sets a clear standard in this year’s renewal through her fourth behind Enable in last year’s Oaks at Epsom.
Prior to that, this daughter of Cape Cross was a Listed winner over 1m 2f in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on her appearance run last season. Although no match for wonder filly Enable, Horseplay was then beaten just 2 1/4 lengths in a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud before finding soft ground not to her liking on British Champions Day at Ascot.
Dropping back down to this level after more than 200 days off when a 1 1/2 lengths runner-up to Coronet in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes on her return to action at York should have put Horseplay spot on to finally land a top class race.
Trainer Balding’s yard is in great shape coming into this contest, so Horseplay odds look well worth siding with here. That’s why we’ve put her up among our Lancashire Oaks betting tips.God Given respected for CumaniItalian-born trainer Luca Cumani has saddled two previous winners of the race in Pongee (2004) and Emirates Queen (2013), so this year’s entrant God Given is entitled to plenty of respect due to being a course and distance winner.
The four-year-old has been partnered by Jamie Spencer for three of her four career wins, including last time out at the Merseyside venue over this trip in the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes. God Given actually found extra when staying on and then pressed close home to run out the half-a-length winner from Crimson Rosette.
An unchanged BHA mark of 105 for that victory puts this daughter of Nathaniel closest to Horseplay on official ratings. It also puts her 5lb clear of anything else she’s up against here, so God Given who also has a Group 3 win in France from last season when making all looks the main danger.
Haydock clearly suits her having previously won a maiden by four lengths over roughly the same trip. As the sole course and distance winner in the line-up, God Given can certainly give Horseplay plenty to think about.Precious Ramotswe an each-way bet No trainer has saddled more winners of the Lancashire Oaks than John Gosden, who is tied with the great Sir Henry Cecil as the most successful handler in the race’s history. The improving Precious Ramotswe looks to enhance that record here for owner Anthony Oppenheimer and is a solid each-way bet after showing real progress last time out.
Sporting the same colours as Golden Horn and Cracksman, this four-year-old filly has won three of her four starts and connections were happy to pitch her in Group 3 company for the Bronte Cup over 1m 6f at York last time out.
Precious Ramotswe set a steady pace under Rab Havlin and quickened before three out where he switched her to get the benefit of the stands’ side rail at the Knavesmire. She kept on well to beat Do Re Mi Fa Sol by half-a-length when ridden approaching the furlong marker.
It was a big step forwards for a filly who had only performed in handicap company beforehand, but it also looked to be pushing Precious Ramotswe’s stamina to the limit. Dropping back in trip to a mile-and-a-half thus looks a smart move by connections.
Jockey Havlin is three from three aboard this other daughter of Nataniel, who is actually one of the most unexposed horses racing in this. Precious Ramotswe holds every chance of making further progress and is thus each-way value in a race where you can only get two places but a quarter of the odds.Your Next Bet
