Mid-week horse racing update

The middle weeks of April see the traditional lull in racing after the thrills of Cheltenham and the spills of the Grand National. Punters are never sure at this stage of the season whether to look to the National Hunt races or to the gearing up of the Flat. Click here for a free £25 to bet on horseracing with Betfair Wednesday was the first supplementary stage for this year's Derby, which saw a record 13 extra horses added to the entries for the famous 1m 4f race. The most notable addition to the June 7 contest was Godolphin's Rio De La Plata, who is a best-priced 25/1 for the 2,000 Guineas on May 2, and 22/1 with Betfair for the Epsom spectacle. Godolphin's trainer Saeed bin Suroor also added another three of his charges with Alexandros, Young Pretender and McCartney also entered. Rio De La Plata won the big two-year-old race at Longchamp over 7f last year, but he was slammed by New Approach - as short as 7/2 for the Derby - at Newmarket in the Dewhurst last year. Veteran trainer Henry Cecil entered recent Newmarket scorer Kandahar Run, a grey by multiple Group 1 winner Rock of Gibraltar. Kanadahar Run won his last start in October in a fast time, and has proven his versatility on all going. He is available at 33/1 but generally much shorter at 20/1. Other entries were by Walter Swinburn, who won the Derby as a jockey three times on Shergar, Shahrastani and Lammtarra, although his Wintercast doesn't look in the mould of those illustrious colts. Sir Michael Stoute added Confront, while Cecil also put in Twice Over. Jumps fans will be scouring the field of the Scottish Grand National, which takes place on April 19th. Welsh Grand National hero Miko de Beauchene rightly heads the market at 8/1, especially after his Red Square Vodka Gold Cup victory over 3m 4 1/2f at Haydock and his near-miss at Cheltenham in the Pertemps Final. Grand National winner Comply or Die is unlikely to run and while he is as short as 10/1, Betfair make him a 25/1 chance, a price which reflects the likelihood of his making the line-up. Aintree failures such as Point Barrow, Mr Pointment, Vodka Bleu, Butler's Cabin, Joaaci and Naunton Brook all bid to finish the course at Ayr, while the likes of National finishers Hedgehunter, Cloudy Lane and Milan Deux Mille all have better chances of victory this time around at the Scottish track. Click here for a free £25 to bet on horseracing with Betfair Betfair is the world's leading betting exchange and licensed bookmaker in the UK. Over 15 million bets placed a day! Get your Betfair £25 Free bet now!