Blue Bayou, Your Alternative Bet

2015-07-10

2.40 Newmarket – Blue Bayou

The 2.40 Duchess Of Cambridge Group 2 fillies contest at Newmarket looks a strong renewal with impressive Ascot winner Illuminate heading the market. She faces stiff competition in the form of Queen Mary second Easton Angel, but with the two runners taking out a huge chunk of the betting, there may be a value each-way alternative in the form of the Brian Meehan trained Blue Bayou.

The Bahamian Bounty filly has just had the one start, but has a victory to her name. Was relatively unfancied in the betting at Haydock when scoring at odds of 20/1 21.00 +2000 20.00 20.00 -0.05 and the fact that she scored despite not being overly fancied, bodes well for today. The fourth from that race bolted up by 6 lengths next time out which makes the form look relatively solid.

Brian Meehan has a great record with his second time out 2 year olds who have been off for 1-3 months; 46/198 (23.23%) for £44.36 LSP, giving an A/E of 1.46. Admittedly she faces stiff competition and has to step up on what was achieved at Haydock, but there is a good chance of that happening, and in a 9 runner race, odds of 14/1 15.00 +1400 14.00 14.00 -0.07 look appealing for each-way purposes.

4.55 Newmarket – Fiftyshadesofgrey

In an ultra-competitive 19 runner 7 furlong handicap, Fiftyshadesofgrey is the call. The son of Dark Angel has always been well thought of by the George Baker yard, and their patience has been rewarded as his recent runs have shown real progression.

On penultimate start, Baker entered his charge 2 pounds out of the handicap at Goodwood. The horse still managed to win comfortably. He then returned to the Sussex track and repeated the feat. Has now gone up to a mark of 95, but there could well be more in the tank this season. Baker does very well with his handicappers who have had an intermediate break from racing (6-18 weeks); 45/224 (20.09%) for £117.57 LSP, giving an A/E of 1.55.

Has stall 12 and is likely to be sitting midfield. The quicker they go upfront, the better. Has already shown he handles the undulations at Goodwood, so the Newmarket configurations shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. The favourite is Azamour, who is an unexposed runner, but he faces his elders for the first time and will find this tougher.

Tips Summary (10th July)

2.40 Newmarket – Blue Bayou E/W – 14/1 15.00 +1400 14.00 14.00 -0.07  Coral, BetVictor, SkyBet

4.55 Newmarket – Fiftyshadesofgrey Win – 9/1 10.00 +900 9.00 9.00 -0.11  Bet365, Ladbrokes, BetVictor, SkyBet