Vincent O’Brien National Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

Our experts fancy one a huge odds in this 7f 2yo Group 1 contest. Read the horse-by-horse race preview for the lowdown and our betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Churchill was well on top in the closing stages of a C&D Group 2 race last month and is a worthy favourite, but this race is deeper and it’s questionable whether he should be quite so short in the betting. The most obvious danger is Mehmas, who comes here after winning twice over 6f in Group 2 company and ought to be suited by today’s step up in trip, but it could be worth chancing SON OF REST. Tommy Stack’s colt was heavily punted before making his debut in a Tipperary maiden last month and, although his supporters weren’t rewarded, his performance there was full of promise. It looks significant that his connections are keen for him to take his chance in this company at this early stage.

1 Churchill – Delivered on debut promise when winning the Listed Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot (7f, good to soft) in June and has completed a hat-trick with two subsequent Group-race victories, the more recent in small-field C&D event last month; ought to be a very tough nut to crack.

2 Finn McCool – Beaten nearly 10l when third of five in 1m Leopardstown maiden on last month’s debut; ought to be more streetwise now and is open to considerable improvement but needs to progress very quickly to land a significant blow in this company.

3 Lancaster Bomber – Displayed good attitude to win 7f Leopardstown maiden last month, his second start, but seemed to have limitations exposed when last of four behind Churchill in C&D Group 2 contest three weeks ago.

4 Lockheed – Overcame some traffic problems to win 7f maiden at Glorious Goodwood in July and bettered that form when third in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York last month; needs to improve again and prove he can handle some underfoot ease but still enters calculations.

5 Mehmas – No match for star 2yo Caravaggio when second in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, soft) in June but has won twice at that level subsequently, at Newmarket and Goodwood; ought to be suited by today’s step up in trip and is a leading contender.

6 Psychedelic Funk – Won his first two starts before very creditable third in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, soft) in June; however, has over 2l to find with Mehmas on that form and found one too good when odds-on to score over 6.5f here on latest outing.

7 Son Of Rest – Had to settle for second when sent off at odds-on for debut in a Tipperary maiden (7.5f, soft) last month but was clear of the third and that still goes down as a very promising introduction; evidently held in high regard and interesting to see how he fares at this level.

myracing Forecast Prices: 4/7 Churchill, 11/4 Mehmas, 12/1 Psychedelic Funk, 16/1 Lockheed, 25/1 Finn McCool, 33/1 Son Of Rest, 50/1 Lancaster Bomber