Horsbetting.com experts rate the Willie Mullins trained Thomas Hobson a solid bet among Queen Alexandra Stakes tips for the 2m 5f conditions contest at Royal Ascot 2018 on Saturday, 23 June. Counte Octave is feared most of getting the marathon trip, whilst Pallasator odds appeal each-way. Find out why Thomas Hobson is the one to be on by reading our 2018 Queen Alexandra Stakes betting tips preview.Thomas Hobson the one to be on in Queen Alexandra StakesThomas Hobson looks a worthy favourite to land the 2m 5f Queen Alexandra Stakes which brings the curtain down on Royal Ascot 2018 (17:35). The gelding represents the powerful trainer/jockey combination of Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore, who teamed up to win the race in 2012 with Simenon and 2014 with Pique Sous.
Thomas Hobson is classier than both those previous winners, and totally destroyed the opposition at this meeting last year when romping to a six-length success in the Ascot Stakes under Moore. He was then turned out quickly four days later and sent off a heavily-backed favourite for this when finishing a 1 1/4 lengths runner-up to Oriental Fox.
Thomas Hobson raced far too keenly and failed to settle for jockey Martin Harley. He was unable to hold him and, after making rapid headway on the outside two from home to take up the running at the furlong marker, he ran out of gas and couldn’t find any extra when headed.
Given how the race panned out, it was a fine effort. Thomas Hobson went on to finish runner-up in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup before rounding off the campaign with an excellent sixth of 23 to Rekindling in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
The form of those races is extremely strong in relation to this much lower grade conditions race and makes the Rich and Susannah Ricci owned gelding the clear pick among Queen Alexandra Stakes betting tips. Thomas Hobson also goes well fresh and Mullins has clearly saved him for this. So, taking everything into account, he looks a solid bet to go one better than 12 months ago and land the spoils.Count Octave a classy sortCount Octave is a fascinating contender now stepped up markedly in trip and is feared most, according to our 2018 Queen Alexandra Stakes. The Andrew Balding trained four-year-old has won two of his nine starts and posted some really solid efforts in defeat.
They include a cracking neck second of 13 to now top-class stayer Stradivarius in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over 1m 6f at this meeting 12 months ago. That is very strong form and Count Octave comes into the contest having won on seasonal reappearance before finishing a decent third to Defoe in a Group 2 at Newmarket.
He was also far from disgraced last time out in a similar grade affair at York when fifth to Stradivarius, and this represents a drop in class. Count Octave also goes well for Oisin Murphy, who has won on him once and been placed three times from seven starts. If getting the trip, he looks sre to go close for a yard which won the race in 2013 with a similar type in Chiberta King.Pallastor an each-way playerPallasator has some top class back form and looks the each-way play at the odds on offer. The nine-year-old landed a Group 3 at Sandown in 2016 when trained by Sir Mark Prescott, before going on to finish runner-up to Big Orange in the Group 2 Goodwood Cup and a solid third in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York.
Now in the care of Irish handler Gordon Elliott, the strapping gelding switches back to the level having won two of his four starts over hurdles. Pallasator clearly retains plenty of ability and the booking of Jamie Spencer to do the steering is an eye-catching one.
The big question is whether he can settle Pallasator in the early stages as he is unproven at the trip. If he can, then Pallasator has to be a big threat to all.Your Next Bet
