Lough Neagh Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

The $150,000 Lough Neagh Stakes is one of the premier summer sprint races in Queensland and although it has attracted a field of only eight runners, the quality is there to see.

In summary: Many runners have great recent form, but TOO GOOD TO REFUSE stands out as the best bet of the race and possibly of the day at Doomben. It was rattling home last time out after getting too far back over 1200m and its win prior to that start was outstanding. This race isn’t lacking in talent, however, as Most Important and Miss Cover Girl have the experience to upset the favourite.

See our betting tips and full race preview below.

1 Ninth Legion – Former top-liner which has won over $1 million in stakes money. The seven-year-old hasn’t been able to find its best form this season with four starts for no wins and no placings, but it is a six-time winner at this distance and it should find this slightly easier than what it has been facing. The big negative is its weight of 59.5kg and it’s giving some of the more fancied runners a big weight advantage.

3 Miss Cover Girl – This five-year-old mare finished fourth in a similar race last start and it has won and placed second up. It won the Tatt’s Tiara two starts back at Eagle Farm by beating Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Azkadellia by a length. It was an outsider on that occasion and is much shorter in the market for this, so it’s chances of winning appear high.

4 Most Important – I Am Invincible gelding which is pressing for favouritism with bookmakers. The four-year-old won by almost three lengths last start at Eagle Farm and it has won twice from nine starts at Doomben. The well-bred type hasn’t finished worse than third in its last five starts and punters love consistency. The only query is that it hasn’t enjoyed running further than 1200m, so it can be a risky bet over this distance.

5 Coolring – This runner was horribly out of form until it ran second behind Most Important last start. The seven-time winner burst through a gap to run 2.8 lengths behind the current second favourite and that ended its run of poor performances. Granted those came in higher grades than this so we’ll allow it some respect, but the odds are too short for this and it rarely backs up a good showing with another.

6 Shoreham – Outsider of the field and with good reason. It has won only three races from 40 starts and it bled last time out at Rosehill. That came in May so it has been given time to recover, but it has no form fresh up and it’s having its first start on this track. A win would be a big surprise.

7 Too Good To Refuse – It began this campaign with a solid second placing at Doomben behind a subsequent winner at Flemington and it backed that up with a stellar victory at Eagle Farm. That came by 1.8 lengths in a stunning last-to-first performance which had punters standing up to attention. It was well-backed last start in a $200,000 feature, but the jockey was unable to get clear running room until very late. The extra distance suits for this and it should get all favours from barrier three with only 54kg on its back.

8 Flamboyer – Eight-time winner which can throw in the odd good showing, but this looks a step too far. Its has beaten only three horses home in its last two starts, which is disappointing as it managed to run second on this track three starts back. Experience is a good asset, but we’d need bigger odds to go near this runner.

9 Lucky Tom – Capable gelding which has won at Doomben on three occasions and four times at this distance. It won well to end its last preparation, but it has had six starts fresh up for only two placings. We couldn’t discount it here, but place options seem best and the odds reflect that.