Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Sovereign Stakes betting tips and say French raider Plumatic is worth a bet to land the Group 3 feature contest over 1m at Salisbury on Thursday, 16 August. Elarqam is a massive danger based on his fourth in the 2000 Guineas and is feared most, whilst previous winner Zonderland looks capable of making a bold bid and is another to consider now eased in grade. For full details on these horses, read our in-depth 2018 Sovereign Stakes betting tips preview.Plumatic can plunder Sovereign Stakes for FranceFrench raider Plumatic has some strong for to his name and looks the value bet to land the 1m feature contest at Salisbury on Thursday, the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes (16:10). The four-year-old colt hails from the yard of Andre Fabre, whose cross Channel raiders always commend the utmost respect.
He has won two of his seven starts, but his best effort came in defeat last season when a nose runner-up to Recolletos in a Group 3 at Maisons-Lafitte. Plumatic stayed on strongly and would have got up in another stride, whiile the form has a very strong look to it.
Recolletos has won twice since, capturing a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud before following up in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp. He also ran a cracker last time out when a 2 1/2 lengths runner-up to Jessica Harrington’s wonder filly Alpha Centauri in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.
A repeat of that effort would give Plumatic outstanding claims in this and he comes into the race on the back of a confidence boosting easy three-length success in a conditions contest at Chantilly. The son of Dubawi also looks the type that may not have reached his peak yet and may well have even more to offer.
He does have to give 6lb to the younger Elarqam who heads the betting, but that rival now has plenty to prove and Plumatic by contrast looks to have a more solid profile. So, at the odds on offer, he had to be the main selection in our 2018 Sovereign Stakes betting tips to turn over the jolly.Elarqam a key player on Guineas runElarqam was a very promising juvenile who looked set for a terrific season as a three-year-old when a cracking 2 1/4 lengths fourth of 14 to Saxon Warrior in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May. Judged on that effort, he is a worthy favourite and the one to beat – but his two subsequent outings have left a lot to be desired.
After finishing a well-beaten sixth of 11 to Romanised in the Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh, this Mark Johnston trained son of Frankel was dropped in grade in a bid to get back on track. That run came in a Group 2 at York, but he again failed to live up to expectations and could finish only third to Thundering Blue.
Although beaten just three-quarters of a length, Elarqam was allowed to dominate and held every chance until being unable to find any extra close home. It was an underwhelming effort, given that he was rated 13lb higher than the winner and 20lb superior to the runner-up Brorocco.
Having spurned what looked a golden opportunity, connections have decided to lower his sights once again. It could work the oracle and – as the sole three-year-old in the line-up – Elarqam receives 6lb from his five rivals. However, his age group surprisingly have a poor record in the race with just five winners since it was first run in 2000.
So, taking everything into account, we think there are enough reasons to suggest that Elarqam is worth taking on in what is yet another recovery mission for a horse that now has plenty to prove.Class-dropping Zonderland can’t be discountedZonderland is another with questions to answer, but won the race in 2016 and looks another to consider in a fascinating renewal now having his sights significantly lowered. After capturing this prize, the Clive Cox trained five-year-old ran very well when beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Lightning Spear in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
He also posted a blinding effort in the 2017 running of that contest when going down by just a nose to the same rival. Those runs represent really solid form, yet things haven’t gone to plan in three starts since.
Zonderland has been well-beaten on each occasion, but they were all Group 1 contests. This is far easier assignment in which he has leading claims if bouncing back to anything like his best.
Backing him to do so obviously comes with risks attached, but he has a 20 per cent strike rate in the grade and the fact he has proven winning form at the track is a plus. Zonderland therefore had to feature in our 2018 Sovereign Stakes betting tips.Your Next Bet
