Arlington Million Tips & Betting Preview 2016

Race Preview – 11.09pm Arlington

The best day of American Turf racing is upon us and horses from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean do battle in what will be a feat for our eyes.

IN SUMMARY: Roger Charlton sends Decorated Knight over to do war and there is no knocking the consistency of this horse. He made short work of a decent field at Leopardstown in a Group 3 last month and warrants respect even if this is tougher. The suggestion is TRYSTER, a classy globetrotter owned by the powerful Godolphin outfit. The five year old gelding wasn’t seen to best effect in the Price of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot when last seen. He is not a soft ground horse so that run can easily be forgiven. He ran a cracker in the £5Million Dubai Turf at Meydan in March when third to the Japanese star Real Steel and has won five times over this mile and a quarter trip. Everything looks set for a massive run from the Charlie Appleby star.

1 Danish Dynaformer (33/1) – Won a Grade 3 at Woodbine over one mile and four furlongs last month. Strong stayer that needs a good pace up front to run at and will be doing his best work late on. Suspicion is this trip could possibly be too sharp for him and may be outclassed.

2 Dubai Sky (33/1) – Won the Spiral Stakes in 2015 but that was two starts back so he clearly has had his training problems. Given a nice preparation race for this by trainer Bill Mott last month but would be a huge surprise if he were to go on and land this big prize.

3 Greengrassofyoming (33/1) – Surprise winner of the Stars And Stripes Stakes (Group 3) here at Arlington last month, just getting the better of three other horses in a blanket photo finish. This is a huge step up in class and hard to fancy for win purposes.

4 Pumpkin Rumble (66/1) – Finished just behind Greengrassofyoming in the Stars And Stripes Stakes when third last month. He is entitled to take his chance but he looks way out of his depth stepped up to this level. Impossible to fancy on all known form.

5 The Pizza Man (10/1) – Won this race last year but yet to recapture any of that form since and this will be much tougher at the age of seven. Disappointing 4th behind Greengrassofyoming in the Stars And Stripes Stakes last month when long odds on and looks plenty short enough in the betting here.

6 Kasaqui (20/1) – Argentinian raider that won a Grade 3 Arlington Handicap last month. Creditable second in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs in June. Could well be the surprise package in the field and has an each way chance but hard to fancy for win purposes.

7 Take The Stand (16/1) – Front runner that will try make all here! The William Mott trained five year old beat World Approval in a Grade 2 at Fair Grounds but has not been seen since that run in March. Surprising that he has not had a prep run for this race so he must have had some issues. Expect him to lead and fade in the final furlong.

8 Decorated Knight (7/1) – Roger Charlton trained runner that will be travelling overseas for the very first time which will be a new experience for the horse. Won a Group 3 at Leopardstown in good style when last seen and the third Adool has come out to win since. Leading claims.

9 Mondialiste (9/2) – Well bred son of Galileo trained by David O’Meara in the UK. This horse is no stranger to travelling; won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Stakes last year and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile behind Tepin at Keeneland. Fine second to Time Test at York when last seen and is a huge player.

10 Wake Forest (14/1) – Chad Brown’s sole runner in the race so has to merit plenty of respect. Got going all too late in this race last year when 6th. Won the Grade 1 Man O’ War Stakes at Belmont Park in May and was third to World Approval last time. Each way player.

11 World Approval (8/1) – Thriving four year old gelding trained by Mark Casse and certainly one of the more likely winners. The grey horse has run some big races in Grade 1 and 2 company this year before finally getting off the mark in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park last month.

12 Tryster (4/1) – Really smart all weather campaigner than can also mix it with the very best on turf. Won the Dubai Millennium (Group 3) on Turf in Meydan back in February and followed that up with a convincing success in the Jebel Hatta (Group 1) at the same track. Third in the Dubai Turf after that and is a massive player here.

13 Deauville (7/1) – The sole three year old in the field and could find life tough facing his elders. However, won the Belmont Derby under a sublime Jamie Spencer ride when last seen and must have a big chance again if they persist with forceful tactics. You can never write off a Ballydoyle horse, major player.