Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Yorkshire Cup ante post betting tips for the feature race on the final day of York racecourse’s Dante Festival. This year’s renewal of the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup in horse racing, which is run over 1m 6f, takes place on Friday, 18 May. Stradivarius odds make him a worthy favourite to land the spoils for trainer John Gosden. Idaho bets rate a big danger, however, and there’s value in backing Rare Rhythm each-way. Read on to find out why.Stradivarius odds a solid choice in Yorkshire CupStradivarius is a class act and looks a worthy ante post favourite to land the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at York’s Dante Festival on Friday, 18 May (15:30). The John Gosden trained colt has won four of his nine starts and did nothing but progress throughout last season. After winning the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, the son of Sea The Stars could not have been more impressive when pitched against his elders and landing the Group 1 Goodwood Cup.
Stradivarius was settled at the rear of the field by jockey Andrea Atzeni before making stealthy headway half a mile from home. He then took up the running a furlong out and stayed on strongly to beat Big Orange, who has previously landed the Ascot Gold Cup, by 1 3/4 lengths. It was a most taking display. Stradivarius went on to finish a cracking half-length third to Capri in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster, before rounding off the campaign with a solid third to Order Of St George in the Group 2 British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
The form of those races is just about the strongest on offer for the 2018 Yorkshire Cup, while Stradivarius looks the type who could progress even further as a four-year-old. So, taking everything into account, a wager on Stradivarius odds looks well worth it for him to make a winning reappearance before he steps back up into Group 1 company.Idaho bets make him a big player for O’BrienAll-conquering Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien surprisingly doesn’t have a Yorkshire Cup horse racing winner on his CV, but in Idaho is a leading contender for this year’s renewal. The five-year-old is a quirky but highly talented sort when on a going day. He finished runner-up in both the Epsom and Irish Derby in 2016 and showed what he is capable of when landing the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last season by half-a-length from Barsanti.
Idaho was then from from disgraced when staying on 5 1/4 lengths third to wonder filly Enable in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot. The form of that race is extremely strong and Idaho also ran well when seventh to Enable in the Arc at Chantilly. Although not so good in three subsequent runs, including at Meydan back in March, Idaho is unexposed as a stayer and hails from a yard that does exceptionally well with its older horses.
It would be folly to underestimate his chances in this on the pick of his form, so Idaho bets rate the main danger to Stradivarius.Value in backing Rare Rhythm each-wayOwners Godolphin have a good Yorkshire Cup record, so Rare Rhythm looks a lively outsider for the Boys In Blue. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Dubawi has won five of his nine career starts and is very lightly raced for a six-year-old. He was unbeaten in two starts last season, landing the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot before easily beating Barsanti by 2 3/4 lengths in the John Smith’s Silver Cup – a Listed contest over course and distance.
On a form line through the runner-up, Rare Rhythm has as good a chance, if not the beating, of the aforementioned Idaho. He also comes into the race having looked better than ever in two starts at Meydan back in March. After beating Vazirabad by 1 3/4 lengths in a Group 2 over 1m 6f, he lost little in defeat when third behind that rival in a Group 3 over 2m. The drop back looks sure to suit, as Rare Rhythm is 2-2 over the Yorkshire Cup trip. He is also versatile as regards ground and hails from a yard that has made a fine start to the new season.
Backing Rare Rhythm each-way looks a value bet among 2018 Yorkshire Cup ante post betting tips then.Your Next Bet
