Shadwell Middle Park Stakes Betting Tips

The term 'banker' isn't one which should be used loosely. But it is. Often to the financial detriment of enthusiastic and hopeful punters. And betting on odds-on shots isn't always the way to go. However, the personification of a genuine banker lines up in the Group 1 Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon. The horse in question is, somewhat unoriginal I know, Dutch Art, who is a best-priced 5/6 with Blue Square at the time of writing. The unbeaten son of Medicean is has been described by trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam as being as a good a 2yo as he has trained. Given that the Newmarket handler has trained the likes of Rodrigo de Triano, winner of this very race in 1991, that is a glowing endorsement. Dutch Art's form couldn't have worked out better. On his debut the colt had plenty left up his sleeve when beating Simply Perfect in a 5f maiden at Windsor, and the latter has gone onto prove herself one of the best fillies of her generation, landing the May Hill and most recently the Fillies' Mile. The selection had some classy sorts behind - including dual subsequent Group 2 winner Strategic Prince - when cosily landing the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, and then demonstrated his pace and quality at this highest level when claming the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny, beating Magic America, our selection for today's Cheveley Park Stakes, by a length with subsequent scorers Excellent Art and Beauty Is Truth back in third and sixth respectively. Dutch Art demonstrated his versatility at Deauville, handling the very soft going with aplomb having only ever encountered fast going previously. A top-priced 20/1 with Premier Bet for next year's 2,000 Guineas, a price which will halve after he wins today, Dutch Art looks a colt out of the very top drawer, and I cannot see anything to touch him in this six-strong line-up. Aidan O'Brien has sent out the winner of this race three times since 2000, including the penultimate renewal with Ad Valorem, and relies on Brave Tin Soldier this term. Interestingly, Brave Tin Soldier has a similar profile to Ad Valorem, who also landed the Listed Laing O'Rourke Blenheim Stakes at The Curragh before crossing the Irish Sea for a tilt at this Group 1 dash. The Storm Cat colt has to be respected, and he won't mind if there's any further easing in the going, which is currently described as good. However, in Dutch Art he faces a rival of enormous class, and I find it hard to envisage him finding the requisite improvement that he needs to produce in order to topple the favourite here. Conquest beat Wi Dud in the Gimcrack and the latter, who re-opposes again today, went onto claim the Flying Childers Stakes at York's St Leger meeting. Both are smart, make no mistake, but neither look like genuine Group 1 performers to my mind, and Captain Marvellous looks way out of his depth, with all due respect. However, Bryan Smart's Hellvelyn, winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, is well worth his place in the line up. That form looks worth treating with caution because the best horse in the race, Holy Roman Emperor, underperformed and the rest were probably no better than Group 3 class. But, to his credit, Hellvelyn kept on when chasing home Holy Roman Emperor in the Group 1 Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh last month, finishing half-a-length in front of Ireland's leading filly, Miss Beatrix, and he certainly looks poised for a place. Had there been eight runner he would have made each-way appeal at his odds of 15/2 with Skybet, but with Dutch Art and Brave Tin Soldier likely to fill the first two places there's no mileage in supporting the son of Ishiguru. Verdict - 7.5pts Dutch Art @ 5/6 (Blue Square)