International Stakes Betting Preview Part 1

One of the best handicaps of the summer is set to unfold on the undercard for this Saturday’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as the International Handicap offers up excellent value from a line-up of high-quality runners. There is a lot of competition on hand here as 29 entries remain in the mix for this big money 7f Heritage Handicap series event. 

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As it currently stands, the betting favourites are both priced around 9/1 with most major bookmakers as Ashaadd and Queensberry Rules are beginning to emerge as the preferred ante post options. 

It is telling that the pair of them are both floating around the middle of the handicap with Queensberry Rules set to run at 8-8 and his counterpart at the top of the market set to carry 8-7. In such an open division it is a true rarity to see a pair of three-year-olds contesting the favourites spot, especially against such veteran handicappers on deck here like Hawkeyethenoo, Dubawi Sound and Don’t Call Me. 

Ashaadd enters off a victory at Haydock in a Class 2 handicap and the gamble here is whether he can replicate that effort against much tougher company. The race itself only came a few weeks ago on July 6 but he seems to do well being turned out often. This is his fifth race since debuting on May 25. 

Expect the price to begin taking more money if there is no negative news out of the Varian barn in the build-up to the race. An impressive appearance in the paddock could be especially key in his price taking a substantial drop. 

Queensberry Rules is an interesting sort in that he’s only actually been raced four times and the three-year-old son of Teofilo has won two and hit the board in the other races with a pair of third place finishes.