UK Horse Racing Tips

“Breeders Cup 2010” (CC BY 2.0) by Just chaos

The 2017 edition of the Breeders’ Cup is almost upon us and this year the two-day meeting will be staged at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in San Diego County, California. During the course of the event, there will be a total of 13 races, with four on Friday November 3 and nine on Saturday November 4, including the headline Breeders’ Cup Classic. For this preview, we will be focusing our attention on the $6m main event.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 race for three-year-olds and over and is run over 1 1/4 miles. Pre-entries will be confirmed on October 25, with the final entries and draw for positions being announced on Monday October 30.

Of the early contenders, Gun Runner stand outs of the pack, having won three straight Grade 1 races in the lead up to this with his only defeat in last six coming at the Dubai World Cup back March. On that occasion the Steve Asmussen-trained colt was bettered by Arrogate, who will be defending his 2016 crown at Del Mar.

Despite his impressive run in Dubai, Arrogate has failed to retain confidence among many punters following back-to-back defeats at Del Mar. With the course seemingly against Bob Baffert’s horse, many are viewing the in-form Gun Runner as a safer option.

Another Bob Baffert entry who does have form on this course is Collected. Not only is he unbeaten in 2017 but he also excelled at Del Mar in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic last time out coming home ahead of stablemate Arrogate.

Outside of those three, West Coast arrives here on the back of five straight wins including a Grade 1 triumph in the Pennsylvania derby last time out. Also from the Bob Baffert stable, the three-year-old is still improving and should be right in the mix.

So can Arrogate live up to the hype that surrounded him last year? Will Gun Runner carry the momentum into this race? Or will they both be pipped by one of the many strong contenders? A host of horse racing bookies are already taking bets ahead of the final draw at the end of the month, with Gun Runner currently the clear favourite.

“Santa Anita Horse Races / The Breeders’” (CC BY 2.0) by Bahman Mahmoudi

Verdict

This race might just have come too soon for the impressive West Coast and he is likely to be too short a price for a place bet. However, Collected is worth considering for a place at the current prices available.

Of the two big names, Gun Runner juts gets the nod here. He has course and distance form on his side and his trajectory seems to have been timed perfectly for this race. He was by no means disgraced in Dubai and has won his last five on home soil.

With Arrogate due to retire after this race, it would make a great story if he could sign off in style. And if this race was being held anywhere else, he would be our pick.

1. Gun Runner

2. Arrogate

3. Collected

Whatever happens, it’s set to be a world class meet in stunning Californian surroundings.

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