Somerville Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

Somerville Stakes tips for Thursday’s Group 3 race. A mix of unexposed and experienced two-year-olds go to post for the 2017 running of the Somerville Stakes. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: There are six last time out winners in this field and four of those were having their first run; with so many intriguing types this is a very exciting race for the future and preference is for ELARQAM. This son of Frankel cost 1,600,000gns as a yearling and justified his beautiful pedigree to win a York maiden in very comfortable fashion. He will improve leaps and bounds for that run and is a very daunting opponent for all his rivals. The biggest danger may come from Fajjaj who displayed a perfect attitude to win on debut at Ascot and is open to any amount of progress.

1 ALBISHR – Won on debut at Haydock before finishing second on his last two starts, last seen at Salisbury only beaten by a nose in the Listed race. That rival looks useful and the third has run well since, with the prospect of a soft lead very enticing. He looks like a key player with conditions to suit and has to be respected.

2 ELARQAM – Son of Frankel who was bought for 1,600,000gns as a yearling by Hamdan Al Maktoum, winning on debut at York in very ready fashion. He’s extremely well bred and looks like a smart prospect, with that experience likely to spark further improvement. Jim Crowley takes over the ride and he should be very tough to beat.

3 FAJJAJ – Cost 140,000gns as a yearling and showed a very willing attitude to win at Ascot on debut, picking up smartly to win going away. He is open to any amount of progress with Frankie Dettori taking over and he’s a leading contender as he’s completely unexposed.

4 FORTUNE’S PEARL – Two narrow wins at the seven furlong distance sandwich a fair run at York, taking the second of those on his latest start at this venue in August. He only just clung on that day though and faces a very tough task here against some potentially smart horses. Likely to miss out for the placings despite the yard’s good form.

5 MORLOCK – Godolphin inmate who is a son of Epaulette and he won on debut at Kempton two weeks ago, ridden out to ensure victory. It wasn’t the most impressive of debuts compared to others in the field and he has work to do now switched to turf. Hard to rule him out, however others have far more pressing claims.

6 MYBOYHENRY – Improving at a steady rate for Karl Burke, but he was overturned at short odds when easily brushed aside at Brighton in a Novice race when last seen. That race perhaps exposed his limitations and this event is even tougher, so it’s very easy to look elsewhere on this occasion.

7 STATUARIO – Another who arrives on the back of a debut victory, though this Eve Johnson Houghton horse only won an ordinary Novice at Chepstow in softer ground. He’ll need to have improved hand over fist to be threatening here and, with better ground a question mark, he’s unlikely to be good enough today.

8 TANGLED – Won a valuable sales race at York two starts ago, yet he failed to back that up when ninth and well beaten in a similar event at Doncaster two weeks ago. Things get no easier here and he faces some rivals with huge amounts of potential. He’s an each way contender at his best but he does need to bounce back with a career best.

9 TIP TWO WIN – Son of Dark Angel who lacks the scope of some of these, but he’s been proving to be highly progressive this season, winning a Listed race at Doncaster on his latest start. Further progress would be no surprise and Roger Teal’s yard is going very well at present so he’s another to note in a fascinating race.