Star Sports lay £20,000 each-way bet on Britannia favourite Docklands

Star Sports have laid a £20,000 each-way bet on Docklands, who is the clear favourite for the 29-runner handicap.

The Harry Eustace-trained three-year-old bolted up by six and half lengths over course and distance on his handicap debut last month and was put up a stone as a result.

The 94-rated Docklands has only been beaten by Cicero’s Gift at Wolverhampton in March, with his conqueror at Dunstall Park seventh in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday.

A Star Sports spokesman said: “It’s been laid in the office in Hove. It’s £110,00-20,000 each-way on Docklands. It must be a regular punter to have that sort of money on.”

On the chances of Docklands, who broke his maiden at Kempton in April, Eustace said: “He seems in good form and couldn’t have been any more impressive last time.

“He certainly went up a lot in the weights but the way he did it you’d hope there’s room for a bit more.”

Big-race analysis

Last year's Britannia principals are a neat example of where graduates from the race tend to go. Finish high up in this race and you will either become a mainstay in top handicaps or get sold for big money to Hong Kong. Last year's winner and fourth took the latter route. Saga and Jimi Hendrix, second and third, have already run this week with the latter winning the Hunt Cup.

There are a couple of reasons why this year's could prove an atypical renewal. First is by the absence of a specific horse. Covey, winner of Haydock's Silver Bowl, is only the second winner of that race since 2010 not to run in the Britannia on their next start.

He was so impressive at Haydock that he has earned a fast-track to Group company and he looks set to run in the Jersey. In his absence are the placed horses from the Silver Bowl, Royal Cape and Metal Merchant. The runner-up in particular remains most unexposed, and his trainer Hughie Morrison is the only one in recent times to complete the Silver Bowl-Britannia double.

It is typical for Irish stables to bring one over for the Britannia. Joseph O'Brien had the runner-up in 2021 and his father Aidan has tended to saddle a runner as often as not in recent years. Both are represented this time, as are Jessica Harrington, Andrew Oliver and Sheila Lavery.

The novelty is the French-trained runner Bless, who has some attractive form from the spring. He was beaten a nose by subsequent Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi on the Polytrack at Chantilly. He then finished close up behind Valimi (Poulains fifth) and Angers (German 2,000 Guineas winner) at Longchamp.

Bless has been given his French mark of 93 and that may underestimate him. Admittedly, among this Britannia field he will hardly be alone in having pounds in hand.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Roger Varian, trainer of New Endeavour
He's a smart horse and won nicely a couple of weeks ago at Kempton. He ran very well at York before that so he's capable of running a good race. He's stepping up to a mile for the first time but I think if he gets the trip he could be there or thereabouts.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Theoryofeverything
He ran a great race to be third in the Greenham and found the testing ground against him at Chester last time.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Carracci
He won his maiden at Dundalk last year and didn't get the clearest of runs last time in a handicap at the Curragh on Guineas weekend. We hope the step back up to a mile will suit him.

Andy Oliver, trainer of Betterdaysrcoming
The form of the race he won at the Curragh on Guineas weekend has worked out great and he seems to have come out of it in good form so we're looking forward to it.

Dominic Ffrench Davis, trainer of Surely Not
I think he’s reasonably well handicapped and open to a bit more improvement, which you need to win a Britannia. My only concern is the high draw which normally I would be very happy with but didn’t look the place to be on Tuesday. But with the ground drying up it may all change again. He’s in very good order and Hollie [Doyle] gets on very well with him.

James Ferguson, trainer of Good Karma
I’m very hot on him, he’s got a proper chance. It's a bit of a lottery but I think we’re drawn on the right side of the track. Hopefully we’re off a light enough weight and he can go and win his race.

Jack Channon: "The ground will be perfect" for Metal MerchantCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jack Channon, trainer of Metal Merchant
He's run two belters already this season. I think he was definitely the second best in the Silver Bowl and he's in great form. He's drawn stands' side and you never really know if that's good or bad but the ground will be perfect.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Just An Hour
He won his maiden well at Killarney. We think a stiff mile will suit him well.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Royal Cape
I thought he ran an excellent trial the other day. He didn’t get the run of the race and sort of won the handicap as there was a Group horse [Covey] in front of him.

Sheila Lavery, trainer of Fort Vega
The Britannia is always a cavalry charge so you're always going to need a lot of luck in running. He's in great form and won well at Naas so we thought he was entitled to take his chance.
Reporting by Charlie Huggins

Read more of Thursday's previews:

'All winter he’s been the one we hoped would be top of the tree' - who rates his Norfolk runner so highly?  

'We pencilled him in for this straight after his win' - powerhouse trainers take aim at King George V Stakes  

Hot Ribblesdale favourite Al Asifah 'could be anything' as she bids to cement growing reputation  

'We've talked about this for a year' - key trainer quotes for a wide-open Gold Cup  

'He’s a proper horse' - who is looking forward to his runner stepping up in trip?  

'I just hope for a bit of luck' - how will the draw impact this year's Buckingham Palace? 

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