The Longines Valiant Stakes Betting Tips and Predictions

The first big race for us to get stuck into on Saturday afternoon at Ascot is the Longines Valiant Stakes, which is a Group 3 contest open to fillies and mares above the age of three.

The Longines Valiant Stakes is run over a mile, and is worth over £45,000 to the winning connections. This year’s renewal of the race will see ten runners go to post, including the unbeaten and hugely promising Cadeau Belle.

Our Betting Tips and Predictions for The Longines Valiant Stakes

Below you will find our best predictions and betting tips for this race:

Our Best Prediction: Cadeau Belle @ 9/2

Cadeau Belle hasn’t put a foot wrong yet and she may not make an incorrect step here either. The filly did the job well on debut at Gowran Park, running on strongly inside the final furlong to put what was a relatively competitive novice event to bed, while she certainly took a step forward at Navan last time out. Upped to a mile and up in grade to Listed company, the three-year-old made light work of once again winning by over a length. Johnny Murtagh’s runner did it well on that occasion, and she beat some smart rivals, one of whom holds a rating of 103.

In truth, this Group 3 contest doesn’t look much more challenging than that Listed contest at Navan, so with further improvement more than likely, the unbeaten filly is take to extend her run and land the hat-trick.

Our Each Way Prediction: Vetiver (each-way) @ 8/1

Another lightly raced type not to ignore here is Vetiver, who runs for Andrew Balding and will be ridden by P J McDonald. This three-year-old didn’t take long to come to the boil; she won at Beverley on soft ground on her second start back in September of last year, while she made a winning return to action this season, bolting up at the same venue when up to a mile and a half.

The filly wasn’t as good when stepping up to a Class 2 handicap as Chester, but it may just be that she didn’t take to the track, as she certainly continued her progression when winning in Listed company on soft ground at Carlisle last time out. That race was only slightly weaker than this Group 3 contest, while she ran on powerfully suggesting that the step back up to a mile would suit. Could have more to offer and rates as a decent each-way bet for my money, especially as she posted an eye-catching speed rating.