Brazen Beau is on top of the 2014 J.J. Atkins tips for Adam Blencowe, but the leading form analyst believes that Time For War is the value runner in the Group 1 event at Eagle Farm tomorrow.
Time For War is the J.J. Atkins tip of Raicng And Sports Senior Handicapper Adam Blencowe. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Brazen Beau stamped himself as a clear favourite for the J.J. Atkins with a comfortable win in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 10, but was upset as a short-priced favourite by Time For War in the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes (1350m) at the same venue on May 24.
Blencowe told RSN this morning that Brazen Beau was unlucky not to win the BRC Sires Produce Stakes, but said that Time For War represents fantastic value at his current J.J. Atkins odds of $10.
“I think that he (Brazen Beau) is certainly the most likely winner,” Blencowe said.
“There was not much between him and Time For War last time and he probably should have run the race there and he was one for marking up, but the gap between them in the market looks huge really with Brazen Beau odds-on and Time For War $10.
“Pressing and Looks Like The Cat come up shorter than Time For War and I thought he did a good job and ran pretty good figures leading from the front there.
“Brazen Beau probably should have beaten him and comes here the most likely winner, but the way that the prices come out here I think that you have to have a ticket with Time For War’s name on it.”
Gai Waterhouse-trained Almalad is currently on the second line of 2014 J.J. Atkins betting markets, at a quote of $5, and a number of punters believe that the lightly-raced Mossman gelding is capable of repeating the effort of Romantic Touch in the Group 1 event this weekend.
Blencowe said that he is happy to leave out Almalad at his current quote and feels that the effort of the two-year-old in the TAB Early Quaddie Plate (1200m) was not on the level of Romantic Touch’s form heading into the J.J. Atkins this weekend.
“Almalad comes from a stable that pulled this off last year, but Romantic Touch came off a better performance and marked himself as a strong prospect around the mile before coming here,” Blencowe said.
“Almalad goes straight from 1200 to the mile and they need him to take a pretty big step forward and I think that we can pot him at the current price.”
Brazen Beau remains the best-backed runner in 2014 J.J. Atkins betting market at Ladbrokes Australia, despite his even money quote, from Almalad ($5), Pressing ($8.50) and Looks Like The Cat ($9).
