Auguste Rodin Can Give O’Brien a Record-Breaking Futurity Win
The final Group-1 contest of the season, the Vertem Futurity Trophy, takes place at Doncaster on Saturday. Recent winners include Magna Grecia, Saxon Warrior and Kameko. All three went on to win the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket the following spring.
An additional five winners later claimed the Derby at Epsom. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Camelot was the most recent horse to complete this double in 2011/12. O’Brien has won the Futurity ten times. Victory this year would push him one success clear of the late Henry Cecil and set a new record.
Auguste Rodin in winning action under Ryan Moore at Leopardstown. ©GettyImages
Auguste Rodin represents the Irish trainer at the weekend. A Group-2 winner at Leopardstown a month ago, he is bred out of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks runner-up, Rhododendron. Already a winner on Saturday’s forecasted soft ground, his form looks rock solid, and he can justify his short odds on Saturday.
Looking further ahead, the best horse racing betting sites have Auguste Rodin priced at 10/1 for next season’s 2000 Guineas. The Coral online sportsbook is alone in offering 10/1 about him for the Derby. Most firms make the son of Japanese stallion Deep Impact the 7/1 favorite.
Knight Gets the Nod at HQ
There could also be clues to next year’s big jump races at Cheltenham. The home of national hunt racing and the famous four-day festival, the track stages its first meeting of the season on Saturday. Its card sees two 2023 Champion Hurdle candidates face off in the 2.40 pm, the Masterson Holdings Hurdle.
Here, Knight Salute, winner of three Grade-2s and a Grade-1 at the Aintree Festival last term, is expected to confirm narrow superiority over an old rival, Pied Piper. Only beaten once in seven career starts over hurdles, Knight Salute boasts valuable course and distance winning-form.
Knight Salute excited to be running at Cheltenham at the weekend! 🔊 pic.twitter.com/35yu7ftaTA
— Milton Harris (@MFHarrisRacing) October 19, 2022
The bigger-priced option of the two main protagonists, this former Andrew Balding-trained flat racer represents the affable Milton Harris. The jumps trainer had an outstanding 2021/22 jumps season with 56 winners and a 22 percent strike rate.
Advertising the well-being of his string, Harris has had three winners during the past week at three individual meetings. Two of these, like Knight Salute, were returning from a long break.
Runway to Land Sixth Straight Race?
There may not be any festival pointers in the 888Sport Handicap Chase due off at 3.15 pm. But this is a hot contest that is likely to fall to an improving sort. Chasing a four-timer and never out of the first two in seven chase starts, El Borracho belongs in that bracket.
However, preference is for the youngest runner in the field, the six-year-old Clear The Runway. Completing a four-timer over hurdles and fences in the spring, the Laura Morgan-trained horse returned from a 105-day lay-off to score impressively at Worcester at the start of September.
The handicapper has slapped this former Irish point-to-pointer with a seven-pound rise for that win. But, such was the authority of his victory, Clear The Runway can take the penalty in his stride and should reward each-way backers who avail of his early odds of 9/2.
Saturday’s Best Bets
- Auguste Rodin 3.35 pm Doncaster
- Knight Salute 2.40 pm Cheltenham
- Clear The Runway 3.15 pm Cheltenham
