Pat Rosney’s Windy Millar looks outstanding value at 5-1 to land the Betfred Select Stakes at Nottingham on Thursday.
The son of Honcho Classic is almost impossible to beat when on the bunny and his connections must have been delighted when he was allotted Trap 5 in the draw for this prestigious event.
The sole middle runner in the field, he looks set for a solo with all those inside him blessed with early pace and wanting to grab the rail on the run to the bend.
He also has excellent form on the testing Colwick Park circuit, which includes a victory in a scintillating 29.66 - eight spots faster than what Barnfield On Air clocked in last year’s Select.
The 5-1 with the sponsors look way out of line (Hills go only 7/2) and I would expect them to get knocked over in the rush as punters snap up the value during the next couple of days.
Charlie Lister provides three of the main contenders in the shape of Bandicoot Tipoki (T1), Fear Zafonic (T2) and farloe Reason (T4).
Tipoki is a pup of real quality and promise, but his handler would have preferred him to been on the outside on his Derby runner-up Fear Zafonic who runs all his best races in the red jacket and dives sharpy inwards as soon as the traps open.
Farloe Reason also has a very similar running style to his kennelmates, and the make up of the race surely means that trouble looms at the first bend.
Gold Collar finalist Crown Rover (T3) and the ultra consistent multiple Group winner Cabra Boss (T6) complete the line up.
In my opinion Rover lacks the instant acceleration needed to land a telling blow in such a hot line-up, but Cabra Boss - who beat Bandicoot Tipoki and the selection earlier in the year at Wimbledon - does have a real outside squeak at the 8-1 generally available.
He will get a solo on the outside, has the early pace to turn handy and will be running on strongly at the death.
Select Stakes best prices: T1 Bandicoot Tipoki (11-4 Betfred, Hills) T2 Fear Zafonic (11-4 Hills), T3 Crown Rover (20-1 Skybet, Hills), T4 Farloe Reason (9-2 Skybet), T5 Windy Millar (5-1 Betfred), T6 Cabra Boss (8-1, Generally available).
Recommeded bet: 5pts win Windy Millar (5-1 Betfred)
