The 2018 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts say Quorto is worth a bet to land the spoils in the 7f Group 1 juvenile contest for colts at The Curragh on Sunday, 16 September. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has a superb record in this race on Irish Champions Weekend, so his Anthony Van Dyck rates the main danger. Christmas, also trained by O’Brien, is a progressive sort and another with claims, meanwhile. For full details why, read our 2018 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes betting tips preview.Quorto can enhance Classic claims with National Stakes successQuorto could be something special and looks worth a bet to land the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday (16:15) – a 7f contest for juvenile colts which has a prestigious roll of honour and thrown-up a whole host of subsequent Classic winners.
This son of Dubawi is owned by Godolphin, who have seen their famous all blue colours carried to victory in the race on two occasions, courtesy of Dubawi (2004) and Dawn Approach (2012). In Quorto, they have another potential top notch performer on their hands who is unbeaten in two outings and currently a top-price 16/1 in the ante post betting for next year’s 2000 Guineas.
After running out a very impressive 2 3/4 lengths winner on debut in a nine-runner maiden at Newmarket, the Charlie Appleby trained colt took the step up into Group 2 company in his stride when pulversing the opposition in the Superlative Stakes at headquarters back in July. Quorto only had to be shaken up by William Buick at the furlong marker to quicken clear and win going away by 3 3/4 lengths from Cape Of Good Hope.
It was a display which oozed class and suggested Quorto needed keeping firmly onside. It earned him an official rating of 115, the highest in this line-up which puts him 5lb clear Anthony Van Dyck. He looks a potential Classic contender in the making and is bidding to follow in his father’s footsteps, as Dubawi landed this after success in the Superlative.
The fact Quorto has been saved for this and kept fresh is a plus, as he’s a strong travelling sort with a potent turn of foot. With Buick once again in the saddle, and further improvement looking assured, this British raider is taken to end trainer Aidan O’Brien’s recent domination of the race and land the spoils en route to better things.Anthony Van Dyck a formidable opponentBallydoyle handler O’Brien has won the race 11 times since 1996, including three of the last four runnings. He saddles four in this year’s renewal and Anthony Van Dyck is the clear stable number one, as since finishing a promising seventh on debut this son of Galileo is unbeaten in three starts.
After romping to a facile eight-length success in a maiden at Killarney, Anthony Van Dyck followed up in impressive fashion in a Group 3 at Leopardstown when staying on strongly to easily beat Bold Approach by 4 3/4 lengths. The runner-up is a highly regarded sort trained by Jim Bolger who had won in good style on debut, so the way in which he was brushed aside so easily was impressive.
Anthony Van Dyck has since landed the Group 2 Futurity Stakes over this course and distance when beating stable companion Christmas by half-a-length. Having been sent off a heavily-backed 4/5 favourite, he gave his supporters plenty of anxious moments – being pushed along as several stages before eventually asserting close home.
It was a workmanlike performance and one which suggested he was a middle-distance performer in the making. Bookmakers also took that view and he is currently a top-price 14/1 second-favourite for next year’s Derby over 1m 4f at Epsom.
While Anthony Van Dyck is clearly an above average sort and connections have made no secret that he is at the top of their juvenile tree, whether he will have the speed to cope with Quorto is another matter – so, for that reason, we are keen to take him on in our 2018 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes betting tips.Christmas can’t be discountedChristmas looks the O’Brien second string and, given that he was only beaten half-a-length by Anthony Van Dyck in the Futurity, cannot be ruled out with any confidence. He would have been a great each-way bet, but sadly with only seven going to post bookmakers are paying just two places.
However, should the big two fail to sparkle, then this son of Galileo appeals as the most likely one to take advantage. Prior to the Futurity, Christmas had opened his account at the third time of asking when scoring easily by 3 1/2 lengths at Roscommon.
He then showed a likeable attitude to follow-up in a Listed contest at Tipperary, where he attempted to make all and rallied strongly when headed approaching the final furlong to beat Highland Fortune by a neck. Christmas is clearly progressing with each outing and is officially rated just 2lb lower than Anthony Van Dyck.
As he also looks the likely pace setter in the line-up, should it turn into a tactical affair, he could prove hard to peg back if allowed a soft lead. We therefore couldn’t leave Christmas out of potential punts in our 2018 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes betting tips preview.Your Next Bet
