Middle Park Stakes Betting Tips, Winners & History

Next Race: TBD

The next renewal of this race has not been scheduled yet. We will update this once the schedule has been released for next season. The race info, trends and tips shown below will be updated for the next renewal once the final declarations have been made.

Middle Park Stakes Betting Tips

Note: The following tips are from 2020. Tips for the next renewal will be added once the final declarations have been made.

With six wins in total, including three in the past nine years, it is Aidan O’Brien who sits atop the trainers’ table for this race. O’Brien isn’t particularly fancied by the betting market this year though, with his sole entry Lipizzaner being amongst the longer priced runners in the field.

Frankie Dettori boasts the best record amongst the riders on show with four previous wins to his name. Lying only two behind Lester Piggott, Sir Gordon Richards and Danny Maher in the all-time list, Dettori will have high hopes of moving a step close as he takes the ride on the well-fancied Martyn Meade runner, Method.

A strike rate of five winning favourites or joint favourites in the past 10 years is solid enough and, despite a couple of pretty short prices, has still edged supporters of the market leader into a level stakes profit of +£0.74 over this period. Whilst those towards the top of the market have done well, it should also be remembered that we have seen three horses win at 22/1 or longer in the last nine years, so an upset is not off the table by any means.

Minzaal – 5/2

Thanks to the exploits of the brilliant Battaash, we have become pretty used to the sight of Jim Crowley carrying the Hamdan Al Maktoum colours to victory in sprint contests in recent years, and on the early evidence, the powerful owner may well have another star on his hands in the shape of the Mehmaas colt, Minzaal.

Looking a winner in waiting when obtaining no sort of run until way too late in a decent event at Ascot on debut, he wasted no time in backing up that impression when scoring in almost ridiculously easy style in a novice event at Salisbury next time out. It was Group 2 company for this good-looking bay on his subsequent start, and whilst not quite winning in a canter as he had a Salisbury, he could still be called the winner some way out that day.

Looming up ominously, with the majority of his rivals flat to the boards, he then quickened nicely to put daylight between himself and the rest before seeing the trip out well for a two-length success. He is up in class again here and does have a few pounds to find with a couple of these, but it is more than likely we haven’t seen the best of him yet and he may well be up to the task.

Method – 3/1

Sire Mehmaas is one of the real emerging stars of the breeding game, and this looks a particularly strong race for the Tally Ho stud stallion. In addition to Minzaal, the retired July Stakes winner will also be represented by Clive Cox’s Supremacy, and the unbeaten in two, Method, from the yard of Martyn Meade. Both runners come here with strong claims and possess a similar profile, but we just prefer the claims of Method.

A perfect two from two in his career to date, this one made subsequent Group 2 winner Fev Rover look pedestrian when routing the field on debut at Doncaster, and was just as impressive when landing a Listed event over this trip at Newbury last time out.

Travelling sweetly enough on the heels of the leaders throughout that day, it did then take him a few strides to pick up, but once he did it was all over as he cleared away for a 2¼l success. A strong pace at the trip – which he seems likely to get here – ought to suit a horse who is already being mentioned as a Guineas possible, whilst the fact that his trainer has fired in three winners from his past nine runners also augurs well for his chance. Further boosting his chances, Dettori takes the ride and he shouldn’t be too far away.

Lucky Vega – 7/2

Flying the flag for Ireland this year are Joseph O’Brien’s Charterhouse, Aidan O’Brien’s Lipizzaner and Lucky Vega from the yard of Jessica Harrington. Of course, any horse with the name of O’Brien in the trainer column in a Group 1 event always merits the utmost respect, but of that trio, it is Lucky Vega who boasts by far the strongest form.

Sitting on a perch of 117, this son of Lope De Vega is not only the best of the Irish runners, but the best horse in the race full stop according to the official handicapper, and significantly has already proven himself up to winning in Group 1 company. That top level success came in the prestigious Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh two starts back, and he did it ever so easily too – looking really strong inside the final furlong to power right way from the likes of Steel Bull, The Lir Jet and Aloha Star.

Such obvious claims are tempered by the fact that he does arrive on the back of a defeat having finished fifth in the 7f National Stakes last time out. However, that effort can be upgraded significantly as he enjoyed no sort of run at all, being trapped in a pocket as the race unfolded in front of him. Even the bare form of that 2½l defeat puts him right on the premises here, and on that Phoenix Stakes performance, he may well be the one they all have to beat at a price that looks very fair.