The John of Gaunts Stakes betting and odds

Haydock The John of Gaunts Stakes betting preview

With little over a week before the Epsom Derby this weekend’s action comes from Haydock Park with The John of Gaunts Stakes providing Saturday’s feature, writes Mikey Mumford. Get a free £50 bet from Betfred on this race.

A field of ten runners will head to post for the race now run under the title of the Timeform Jury Stakes with sprint king Dandy Nicholls responsible for current market leader Regal Parade. The seven furlong dash will also see Godolphin’s Shakespearean looking to get back to winning ways and Beacon Lodge who was a winner last time out over course and distance.

Such was his impressive win in the Spring Trophy Stakes here three weeks ago Beacon Lodge can go well again for Clive Cox. The six-year-old had both Kakatosi two lengths behind that day and took another Grade One event at Haydock in 2009. Adam Kirby should give him a toe into the race from stall seven and looks good each way value at 7/1. He failed to justify favouritism at Windsor on his penultimate start but is the only runner to have won last time out, conditions should suit as well.

American import Doncaster Rover (25/1) is a consistent sort in Grade One company despite not landing top honours. He won over six furlongs here two years ago but has failed to find form since a listed win at Newmarket last August. Outpaced in both starts this term he finished 11th of thirteen runners on good to firm ground at Newmarket last month. Inler was well ahead of him in fifth and looks up against it as the rank outsider in this competitive field.

Ryan Moore has won this event for the last three years and has a good chance of making it four aboard William Haggas’ High Standing (8/1). It was clear the six-year-old gelding needed the run on his reappearance at Leicester where the rider removed his blind late, but he is equally adept at five, six and seven furlongs. Regal Parade had him comfortably beaten in the Shadwell Stakes at Newbury last year but has won over shorter at Haydock and has demonstrated good early pace; one for the shortlist.

Himalya (14/1) form is nothing to write home about of late, he finished behind Doncaster Rover at Newmarket and never got in the race in the Victoria Cup at Ascot last time. Jeremy Noseda’s representative needs to improve significantly on that effort and his first and only career win came in a maiden event at Doncaster in 2008. Grade Onemight be a cut above for this five-year-old although he does stay the sharp seven furlongs and has run well in defeat previously. Each way claims at the most.

Brian Meehan enters the relatively unexposed Inler who won a competitive Grade Two event at Doncaster on his final start last year. After the Irish raider changed stables from John Best’s yard a year ago, Inler was well beaten over six furlongs at York last time but prior to that had run well in defeat at Newmarket finishing a length behind subsequent winner Genki. Should be more improvement to come from this four-year-old colt and could sneak into the minor money at 12/1.

An impressive 2010 season saw Kakatosi (8/1) land all but two of his contested races winning back to back Sandown sprints on ground described as good to firm. Unsure whether he’ll get these conditions at Haydock but was headed inside the final furlong by Beacon Lodge over course and distance last month. A little more is needed to reverse those placings but Andrew Balding horses are in good fettle of late and not one to write off just yet.

Stone wall last of eight in a listed event at Ascot at the end of last month makes it difficult to fancy King of Dixie. Jim Crowley’s mount needs to rediscover the form that landed that Ascot renewal twelve months earlier. Bred to stay a mile it remains to be seen whether the drop in trip will suit the seven-year-old whose only two turf wins have come on good ground. He will have to turn in an exceptional performance to take a hand in this race at 20/1.

Paper favourite Regal Parade (5/2) takes his place at the head of the market on the back of a close second to Delegator in the Duke of York two weeks ago. A run at the Curragh in didn’t go to plan despite being sent off 9/4 favourite on his reappearance this term. The Cheka narrowly failed in that race in Ireland but no doubt Regal Parade retains the ability to win a contest like this. Has won over a furlong shorter at this track and probably boasts the best recent form in the field.

The wide draw is a big negative for Godolphin’s Shakespearean (4/1) who has struggled to put his best foot forward since his win on Epsom Derby day last year. He did have Himalya well behind when landing a Newbury Group 2 event in August but a disappointing end to 2010 makes it hard to have confidence. Decalred a non-runner in the Lockinge this must have been the intended target for connections and market confidence would be significant.

The Cheka (7/1) is interesting for Eve Johnson Houghton after her second in a listed event at Windsor over a mile earlier this month. The five-year-old gelding was just headed at Curragh two starts back and will easily get the seven furlongs. He’s better on soft ground so any rain will help his cause and certainly a contender if reproducing that form.

Several in with chances here with Regal Parade the pick on recent form but Dandy Nicholls’ runner could be vulnerable to an improver. Beacon Lodge must be taken seriously on the back of his recent course and distance win and likewise Kakatosi who has performed admirably in defeat on his last two starts. However, the tentative vote foes to HIGH STANDING who can give Ryan Moore a fourth consecutive win in this at the expense of The Cheka; he can follow him home. Get a free £25 bet from William Hill when you open an account here

By Mikey Mumford

Click here to view all free bets from online bookmakers