Opinion Poll: 6-1 for this year’s Ascot Gold Cup after Henry II Stakes win
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos) , BY LEWIS PORTEOUS 7:32 PM 31 MAY 2012
Report: Sandown, Thursday
Betfair Henry II Stakes (Group 1) 2m½f
FRANKIE DETTORI was back in the headlines on Thursday night when enjoying an armchair ride aboard impressive Henry II Stakes winner Opinion Poll.
Godolphin’s six-year-old showed last year that he was up there with the very best stayers, finding only Fame And Glory too strong in the Gold Cup and William Hill make him 6-1 (from 8-1) to go one place better off the back of this impressive display.
Dettori was happy to bide his time through the early exchanges as Chiberta King took the field along but early in the straight it became apparent there was only going to be one winner.
Striking the front between the final two furlongs, the 5-4 favourite showed an impressive turn of foot under Dettori’s hands and heels to win with plenty in hand.
Ibicenco edged out Chiberta King in a photo for second.
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager, said: “He was very professional and we’re very pleased.
“Not all can do what he does. He races in Dubai in the winter and Europe in the summer – he’s very active. If he was to be given a break he would go bananas and he thrives on his racing.
“He doesn’t show the need for soft ground anymore and is very straight forward now.”
BETFAIR HENRY II STAKES (GROUP 3) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) Winner £31,191 RUK
Good To Firm 2m78y Number of runners: 10.
| NO. DRAW FORM |
HORSE | AGE | WGT OR |
JOCKEY TRAINER RTF% |
TS | RPR | BEST ODDS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1764013- |  |
LEY HUNTER
 242 |
5 |
9-4
115
|
112 | 123 | ||
| 26122-21 |  |
OPINION POLL
 61 |
6 |
9-4
116
|
126 | 129 | ||
| 31054826- |  |
AAIM TO PROSPER
308 |
8 |
9-2
107
|
118 | 121 | ||
| 443165- |  |
ASKAR TAU v
 350 |
7 |
9-2
110
|
102 | 125 | ||
| 5276-456 |  |
BLUE BAJAN
 13 |
10 |
9-2
103
|
88 | 123 | ||
| 6519020- |  |
CHIBERTA KING
229 |
6 |
9-2
108
|
118 | 123 | ||
| 792001-1 |  |
OLD HUNDRED v
43 |
5 |
9-2
95
|
105 | 113 | ||
| 882315-4 |  |
TIMES UP
13 |
6 |
9-2
111
|
121 | 128 | ||
| 933613-2 |  |
ZUIDER ZEE
50
|
5 |
9-2
105
|
106 | 120 | ||
| 1012832-4 |  |
IBICENCO
12 |
4 |
9-0
112
|
113 | 125 | ||
BETTING FORECAST: 13/8 Opinion Poll, 7/2 Times Up, 13/2 Ley Hunter, 8/1 Ibicenco, 8/1 Zuider Zee, 10/1 Askar Tau, 14/1 Chiberta King, 16/1 Aaim To Prosper, 16/1 Blue Bajan, 20/1 Old Hundred.
Racingpost
