Who would your money be on in a race between a top-class athlete and a Class 5 sprinter trained by Brendan Powell?

Well like any race it depends on the course, distance, going and more importantly the current form.

Peopleton Brook was last seen finishing fourth in a Newbury sprint handicap, whilst relay runner Jamie Baulch won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. However, even with a 20-metre head start he was no match for his equine opponent on the Kempton polytrack.

Here’s what happened last night:

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Coral Eclipse Betting Odds

July Cup Betting Odds

Kasbah Bliss, winner of last year’s Group 3 Prix Gladiateur and unplaced favourite in the 2009 World Hurdle, is making his reappearance at Deauville tomorrow in a Group 2 contest over 1m4f.

François Doumen is better known over the Channel for his jumpers, but he has already sent out two winners at this month’s Deauville festival. On Verra and Green Rock completed a double ten days ago on the sand course, but tomorrow’s Lucien Barriere Grand Prix De Deauville will be run on Kasbah Bliss’ preferred going – good.

The seven year old is a 13/2 shot for next year’s World Hurdle, but his previous runs have suggested that the undulations of Cheltenham aren’t to his liking. He proved at Longchamp last year that he was also a top class horse on the flat.

He won’t be fully tuned up for tomorrow’s race, so 10/1 is probably a fair price. 

Andre Fabre saddles the 6/4 favourite, Ideal World, who is by Kingmambo. He took the spoils in a listed contest over course and distance earlier this month and should hold off the 5/2 chance Pouvoir Absolu on that form.

Christophe Soumillon has just picked up a ban, and is having a wretched week, so we probably shouldn’t back Wing Express.

Mark Johnston‘s raider, Jukebox Jury, looks of interest at the 3/1 mark. He receives a handy 5kg allowance from the others. The trainer’s last winner in France came in the shape of Laa Rayb, exactly one year ago.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes was a strangely-run affair, but Jukebox Jury ran out a decent winner at Haydock earlier this month. A repeat of that performance will surely see him involved in the finish.

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Deauville Betting

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Are you looking for the betting on the 2010 Lincoln Handicap? Click here!

22 runners go to post in Saturday’s 1m William Hill Lincoln Handicap, the curtain-raiser to the flat season.

Being a handicap with 16 runners or more, the bookies are paying 4 places at 1/4 the win odds. All the antepost betting has revolved around 4/1 Expresso Star, who has won his last 3 starts.

John Gosden will inspect the ground, and will make a late decision whether or not to chance the favourite on the quick surface. The going should be good to firm, and there shouldn’t any significant rain before the race.

The gamble on Expresso Star was ignited by a Newmarket gallop, forcing the bookies to run for cover from 10/1.

With doubts even over the favourite’s participation, there must surely be some each way value out there.

In the last 9 runnings of the race, only Babodana (2004) has carried more than 9 stone to victory. To make our job easier then, let’s discount 33/1 Lady Deauville, 25/1 Blythe Knight, 8/1 Swop, 33/1 Eva’s Request, 16/1 Don’t Panic, 25/1 Docofthebay and 20/1 Mia’s Boy.

In the last 10 years, only Zucchero and Blythe Knight were the only 6 year old winners. Discount 50/1 Royal Power, 40/1 European Dream, 12/1 Flipando, 33/1 Ace Of Hearts, 50/1 Bolodenka and 16/1 Benandonner.

Of course, if you take the statistical approach, you wouldn’t have found last year’s Cesarewitch winner, 50/1 Caracciola. However, it does make our job easier!

The following are left:

25/1 Whistledownwind wears a visor for Jeremy Noseda, but will want it softer.

11/1 Huzzah has been well supported in the bettting but may want cut in the ground. Drawn in 17, he should get towed along with the pace.

40/1 Dream Lodge was 21st out of 21 in the Spring Mile last year and is overlooked.

50/1 Philario has form behind Premio Loco at Kempton which reads well. Apprentice jockey Martin Lane is good value for his 5lb claim meaning Philario has a place chance.

50/1 Cobo Bay is a front-runner who won first time out last year.

9/1 Charm School is from the same yard as the favourite, but could well beat him from a higher draw. He finished 3rd in a 7f handicap at Doncaster in November, despite not getting a clear run.

14/1 Zaahid has been nibbled at in the betting and will be ridden by Robert Winston. He is drawn in 2, but the pace may be with the higher numbers.

20/1 Titan Triumph has 5 wins from his last 6 starts, but they have all been run on the all-weather.

Conclusion:

A tricky contest to start the flat season, but it may be worth taking a chance with Philario, who is 50/1 with Stan James.

1pt each way @ 50/1 Philario (Stan James, 1-2-3-4, 1/4 odds)

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Spring Mile Betting

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William Hill Lincoln Handicap Betting