Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Upavon Fillies Stakes betting tips and say the unexposed Crystal Hope is worth a bet to prove Newmarket handler Sir Michael Stoute with a fifth winner of the extended 1m 1f Listed contest at Salisbury on Wednesday, 15 August. Chain Of Daisies is the class act and feared most, having won this race in 2016. Billesdon Bess, who landed the spoils 12 months ago, appeals each-way. Read our in-depth 2018 Upavon Fillies’ Stakes betting tips preview for full details.Crystal Hope the one to be on in Upavon StakesThe unexposed and promising Crystal Hope looks worth a bet to provide trainer Sir Michael Stoute with a fifth winner of the Listed extended 1m 1f Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury on Wednesday (15:40).
This three-year-old daughter of Nathaniel has only had three starts and came good at the second time of asking when easily beating Give And Take by three lengths at Sandown back in April. After being held-up in the early stages, she made good headway on the outside two from home and ran on strongly inside the last to win going away at the line.
It was a most taking performance, while the runner-up has gone on to land a Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York and finish third in a Group 2 in France, so that gives the form a solid look. Crystal Hope was sent off the 2/1 favourite for a Listed contest at Newbury on the back of that success and, although beaten seven lengths into third behind Sea Of Class, was far from disgraced.
She stuck to the task well once headed, but had no chance with the first two home. Given that Sea Of Class has gone on to land the Group 1 Irish Oaks and the runner-up Athena has subsequently landed the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in America, Crystal Hope faced a mammoth task and did as well as could be expected for one so inexperienced.
The fact that she was sent off the market leader also suggests she is held in high regard and Crystal Hope appeals as the type that will go on improving with each outing. She also receives a handy 8lb weight-for-age allowance from Billesdon Brook and Chain Of Daisies, who are previous winners of this, and 13lb from Promising Run – a fancy for many.
So, taking everything into account, Crystal Hope has plenty in her favour and therefore had to be the main selection in our 2018 Upavon Fillies’ Stakes betting tips.Top rated Chain Of Daisies feared mostChain Of Daisies landed the 2016 running of this and – off 110 – is officially the highest rated in the line-up. The Henry Candy trained six-year-old will also find this company easier than what she’s tackled in two starts this season, where she has not been at her best, so thus rates the main danger to Crystal Hope.
The daughter of Rail Link has a good strike rate having won seven of her 19 starts. She is already a three-time winner in Listed company and has also beat the top class Ulysses by a short-head in a Group 3 contest at Windsor back in 2016.
That is very strong form in relation to this and, when on-song, Chain Of Daisies is a tough front running sort who is very hard to pass. She has also been given a 57-day break since finishing 10th of 16 to Monarchs Glen in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and that is eye-catching, given she has two victories to her name after absences of 54 and 58 days.
With Harry Bentley in the saddle, who is one from three on her, Chain Of Daisies looks a major player in this on the pick of her form and, if allowed an easy lead, is undoubtedly a danger to all.Billesdon Bess the each-way betBillesdon Bess has a superb record at the track having won three of her six starts at it and also made the frame on two occasions. Two of those successes have come over the extended 1m 1f trip of this, including in last year’s renewal where she won impressively.
After tracking the leaders travelling powerfully, the Richard Hannon trained four-year-old found herself trapped on the inside when trying to make a move approaching the final furlong. When a gap did eventually appear, she then quickened smartly to shoot clear and comfortably beat High Hopes by a length.
Given her troubled passage, Billesdon Bess was value for much more than the winning margin. It’s fair to say that she has not been at her best in four starts this season, albeit she wasn’t disgraced in the second of those when a 1 3/4 lengths fourth to First Sitting in a Listed affair at Goodwood.
However, given that this venue clearly brings out the best in her, it would be no surprise to see Billesdon Bess bounce back and put in an improved showing. If she does then the daughter of Dick Turpin has every chance of making the frame – despite this renewal appearing to be a much stronger race on paper than 12 months ago. Your Next Bet
