Queen’s Vase betting tips from Royal Ascot 2018 at Horsebetting.com say Southern France looks a worth ante post favourite in this early St Leger trial over 1m 6f on Wednesday, 20 June. Aidan O’Brien stablemate Nelson, meanwhile, looks a danger who could bounce back. An each-way angle recommended in our 2018 Queen’s Vase betting tips is Almoghared.Southern France can bring Queen’s Vase back to Ireland for O’BrienAidan O’Brien has trained five winners of the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, including three of the last five renewals. Of his three entrants aimed at this year’s 1m 6f contest on Wednesday, 20 June, Southern France brings the most evidence he’ll get the trip (15:05).
As an early trial for the St Leger at Doncaster, this three-year-old only contest is targeted by potential stayers for the final Classic of the season. Southern France has won two of his three career starts after going down by a head on debut at Navan in April.
Master Irish handler O’Brien successfully stepped his charge up to a mile-and-a-half next time out in a maiden at Leopardstown. Southern France was prominent and ridden to lead before the furlong marker, staying on well for a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths victory over Cypress Creek.
He then took the step up into Listed company and trip to 1m 5f in his stride when making a winning return to Navan. Southern France was produced earlier this time and kept on well for pressure beating the re-opposing Drapers Guild by half-a-length.
That has earned him an official rating of 95, which may still be underestimating his ability. Southern France is far less exposed than his stable companions in this who raced as juveniles and there’s more evidence supporting his staying credentials than theirs.Nelson looking to bounce backAnother of the Ballydoyle challengers is Nelson, who may be worth forgiving his last run. His debut apart, he has either finished first or second on all other career starts.
The son of Frankel gave a three lengths beating to the re-opposing Kew Gardens in a juvenile Group 3 contest last September when staying on strongly. Nelson followed up on that by going down by a beck to subsequent Dante winner and Epsom Derby third Roaring Lion in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.
That is strong form and Nelson looked to have trained on when winning on reappearance in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes when given a battle in the closing stages by stablemate Delano Roosevelt. Although that rival reversed the form over the same course and distance in a similar grade affair at Leopardstown, something was clearly amiss with Nelson.
Different tactics from being a front-runner are called for in the Queen’s Vase; so, if ridden with more restraint, his 5 1/4 lengths sixth run behind Hazapour – who was fifth in The Derby – could easily see him bounce back.
Nelson is the highest rated in the line-up on an official rating of 111 and, although there are several relatively unexposed sorts up against him here, that entitles him to serious respect. No Queen’s Vase betting tips can ignore his claims.Almoghared each-way is interestingAmong those unexposed contenders for this are John Gosden pair Stream Of Stars and Almoghared, but the latter could be the value for each-way backers. Stream Of Stars is the shorter price of the pair because he has a course win under his belt.
A chance is taken, however, on Almoghared who has a mile-and-a-half victory too on his second start albeit at Chepstow. The way he kept on strongly to lead in the last half furlong suggested stepping up a quarter of a mile in the Queen’s Vase could easily suit.
Almoghared and the half-a-length runner-up Podemos pulled 10 lengths of the field, which gives the form a solid look. The fact that handler Gosden is prepared to pitch him and his stablemate Stream Of Stars into Group 2 company on just their third starts speaks volumes.
Ground that is on the firmer side is sure to suit Almoghared, and he is likely to get that at Royal Ascot. At the odds on offer, he is an each-way play in a race that that his trainer won last year with Stradivarius.Your Next Bet
