Denford Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

Eight two year olds go to post for the the 2017 Denford Stakes, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Hey Gaman sets the standard and Red Mist looks full of potential, but neither of them should be able to get to LEARN BY HEART. Owned by the Queen, this son of Frankel ran well on debut at Haydock before a comfortable win at Doncaster on his second start, still very green but getting the idea late on. He should come on hugely for that run and looks a smart horse in the making, with Andrea Atzeni taking the ride. William Haggas is still in great form and he should take all the beating.

1 ANOTHER BATT – Improving sort for George Scott who has won two of his seven runs, with a return to forcing tactics on his latest run paying dividends as he was second in Listed company at Ascot in July. A repeat of that performance should see him going close under Robert Winston, but he’s going to have a challenger up front with him and that could scupper his chances. The ground should be fine but it’s hard to give him more than each way claims.

2 HEY GAMAN – Son of New Approach who has been soundly beaten on both his attempts at Listed and Group 2 level, but those were competitive races and either side of his Group 2 run are two wins. He blew away Roussel at Newmarket on his latest start who finished second in the Windsor Castle Stakes and a repeat of that performance will see him go close under Martin Harley. Conditions are fine and James Tate has his string in good order, so he’s another to consider.

3 LEARN BY HEART – Showed promise on debut at Haydock on May and better that performance with a good win at Doncaster on his latest start. He was still very green but got the message late on, storming clear by four lengths and there is likely far more to come from her. William Haggas is bang in form and so is his rider Andrea Atzeni, so he should take all the beating for her Majesty The Queen.

4 MASTER OF WINE – Andrew Balding inmate who was pipped on debut at Sandown but failed to catch the eye on his latest start at Sandown. He finished a disappointing sixth after never seemingly travelling and this looks a very big ask as others bring far stronger form into the race. David Probert rides and conditions be fine, but others are readily preferred on this occasion.

5 RED MIST – Son of Frankel who has a top pedigree and holds a Dewhurst entry, so it was no surprise to see him win at Sandown on debut. He was keen early on and then green when asked for an effort, headed inside the final furlong before rallying to get up again for a gutsy victory. He should have learned a huge amount from that victory and with Silvestre De Sousa taking the ride, he is one to consider deeply.

6 VENTURA KNIGHT – Completed a hat-trick when winning at Leicester on his penultimate start in Nursery Handicap company, but he made heavy weather of it. The softer ground is a valid excuse for his latest defeat but that is what he gets here and scuppers his chances once again under Jim Crowley.

7 ANN WITHOUT AN E – Daughter of Rip Van Winkle who made her debut at Goodwood earlier this month, slowly into stride and running green early on before getting the message too late in the day. She should make up to be a useful filly and she will have evidently learned a lot from that run, with Mick Channon’s two year olds tending to improve for their first run. Ted Durcan takes the ride and she may well turn the tables with Ripley, who she finished just behind.

8 RIPLEY – Fillies’ Mile entry for Charlie Hills and she evidently knew her job well on debut when finishing second at Goodwood earlier this month, keeping on strongly towards the finish. She was around a length ahead of Ripley but that rival was extremely green and she may struggle to hold terms if that rival knows more this time around. She cannot be discounted entirely, but she needs marked improvement to win this.