Horsebetting.com give their 2018 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes betting tips for the 1m 4f Group 2 even on the opening day of the July Festival at Newmarket; Thursday, 12 July. In a race where older horses have a superb record, Barsanti is fancied ahead of ante post favourite Mirage Dancer, while Raa Atoll looks the each-way value in the race. Find out why when you read our Princess Of Wales’s Stakes betting tips preview.Barsanti a tempting punt for the Princess Of Wales’sOlder horses have a tremendous record in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival, so Barsanti looks worth a wager to land the spoils in this year’s renewal of the 1m 4f contest on Thursday (15:35).
Trained by Roger Varian and now aged six, he made a winning return to action when beating the re-opposing Mirage Dancer in a Listed contest over this trip at Ascot. Barsanti hung on gamely when pressed by the runner-up in the final furlong and landed the spoils by a neck.
He was then a far from disgraced 4 3/4 lengths fourth at the royal meeting last month to Crystal Ocean in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. The third home, Cliffs Of Moher – who finished a length in front of Barsanti – went on to quickly turn out again and place in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last weekend.
That is a Group 1 race and gives the form a solid look to it. This Group 2, meanwhile, is easier. There’s very little between Barsanti and the other market principals, so off level weights he has to be a major contender and looks the one to be on. Mirage Dancer feared mostIf the market is any indicator, then the aforementioned Mirage Dancer is the main danger and heads the betting for Sir Michael Stoute – the most successful trainer in this race with nine wins.
The four-year-old was rated 5lb inferior to Barsanti when they met at Ascot in that Listed contest, but the official difference is now just 1lb. That is because Mirage Dancer came out and won at that level at Goodwood when eased close home and value for more than the three-length winning margin.
However, the runner-up Euginio reversed the placings with him last time out when the pair dropped back to 1m 2f for the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot. Mirage Dancer was sent off favourite, but could only finish a 2 3/4 lengths fifth to Monarchs Glen when not getting a clear run at a crucial stage as Euginio chased the winner home.
Despite that excuse, it could mean Mirage Dancer is a vulnerable favourite here and worth taking on, especially now stepping up in class. One plus is Stoute being in-form and he has the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle for this run, but there is no hiding place in what looks a hot renewal of the race.Raa Atoll an each-way playAs the sole three-year-old in the lineup, John Gosden’s Raa Atoll is getting 12lb from the rest of the field and looks the obvious each-way angle in receipt of that. He is a rapidly progressing type for an in-form stable and Frankie Dettori made too much use of last time out in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trying to make all on his first start in such company was a big ask and Raa Atoll showed real toughness not to fade completely when finishing a 2 3/4 lengths fourth to Old Persian. Dettori may well opt for a more tactical ride this time around and will want to keep out of trouble, because his mount found himself short of room and switched at a crucial stage as a result.
Prior to that, Raa Atoll was a ready two lengths winner of a Leicester handicap over the trip. With age on his side, plus the fact he is the most open to further progress, there should be more to come from a colt that is clearly well-regarded by connections.
Some of the older horses in this are on lofty marks based on what they have done lately, so there is scope for an improver and beneficiary of the weight-for-age allowance like Raa Atoll to run into a place.Your Next Bet
