Unsurprisingly, Aidan O’Brien has been chalked up as Stan James' 4/6 favourite to be Top Trainer at this year’s Royal meeting. With the likes of Yeats (Gold Cup), Duke Of Marmalade (Prince of Wales's Stakes) and Henrythenavigator (St James's Palace Stakes), the master of Ballydoyle has his usual strong hand and it will be a minor surprise if he doesn’t come out on top, but I've a sneaky feeling for another trainer further down the betting list.
Jeremy Noseda has his horses in great nick and he looks to have several with chances this week, most notably Fleeting Spirit, who is sure to go off a red-hot favourite for Tuesday’s King’s Stand Stakes. I’ve previewed the race elsewhere, so I won’t bang on about her chances here but, for my money, she’s a banker providing the ground is on the fast side of good and, having just seen the weather forecast for the next few days, I’m confident that she will get her ideal conditions.
Of course, Noseda will need more than winner to be top trainer and his Himalya is primed to run a big race in the Coventry Stakes, also run on the opening day. The son of Danehill Dancer must have been showing plenty at home as he was sent off 4/6 favourite for his debut at Doncaster two weeks ago, and his supporters would have had few anxious moments as he won with plenty in hand from the more experienced Seaway. Four of the past eight winners of this race have been once-raced maiden winners and this 210,000gns purchase appears to have the perfect profile.
So, the trainer could easily have two winners on the board by the end of the first day, which makes him a terrific back to lay proposition - currently 9.6 to back on Betfair (ask for bigger!) - and a value 12/1 with fixed odds boys bet365. But the beauty of the bet is that he has other horses with chances later in the week, including his 2007 Golden Jubilee winner Soldier’s Tale, who could bid for a repeat success, providing the ground isn’t too quick. With rain forecast for the middle of the week, conditions could be just right for him come Saturday.
Noseda’s other potential winners include Sixties Icon (Hardwicke Stakes), Resurge (Britannia Stakes) and the well-handicapped Milne Garden, who possesses a terrific turn of foot and can put that to good use in either the Duke of Edinburgh or Wolferton Handicap. Need any more encouragement for a bet?
Recommended Bet:
Jeremy Noseda 2pts @ 12/1 bet365 (plus back to lay on Betfair)