2024 Saudi Cup Tips - Two runners to back at Riyadh

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 23 Feb 2024

Jon Vine 23 Feb 2024

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Betting tips and odds for the 2024 Saudi Cup
This huge Grade One takes place at Riyadh on Saturday 24th February
Derma Sotogake and Defunded feature in our tips

Expired

Yutaka Yoshida ridding Panthalassa wins the Saudi Cup 2023 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. (Getty)

One of the world's richest horse races takes place on Saturday, as a field of the world's best flat racers battle it out in the Saudi Cup. A staggering first prize of £7.5m is on offer in this year's renewal, and a fantastic field of 14 has been confirmed for the feature at Riyadh.

We've taken a look through the latest Saudi Cup betting and picked out our best betting tips.

2024 Saudi Cup Odds

Name	Odds
White Abarrio	3/1
Lemon Pop	9/2
Derma Sotogake	13/2
National Treasure	8/1
Ushba Tesoro	8/1
Bar	12/1

2024 Saudi Cup Runners

The last two renewals of the Saudi Cup have provided fantastic entertainment. While both were won in almost identical times, the winners couldn't have had more contrasting trips through the race.

Emblem Road was outpaced early as a handful of horses attempted to make the running, before running the whole field down in the closing stages to claim a shock win for the locals. 12 months ago, the strong-staying Panthalassa was allowed to dictate the race from the front and managed to maintain that advantage all the way to the line.

This year's contest could be set up for an Emblem Road-style finish, with a dearth of front-runners in the field. National Treasure has done his best work from the front and Flavien Prat is drawn kindly in stall seven. Brad Cox's Saudi Crown also likes to make the running and I expect the US shippers to be the fastest out of the gates.

Hoist The Gold simply couldn't hang with National Treasure after a smart break in the Pegasus World Cup, but he'll likely go forward from stall eight. Local runner, Carmel Road may be forced forward from a wide draw in stall 14, while Doug Watson's Isolate is another who boasts plenty of gate speed.

Market leader, White Abarrio made the most of a low draw when winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. Irad Ortix Jnr's mount slotted in behind the pace-setters, before storming home on the outside of the field to claim an impressive win. Richard Dutrow's grey has been drawn in stall one today and the faster they go in the early stages, the better for White Abarrio.

Ushba Tesoro was badly outpaced in the Breeders' Cup Classic and I can't see this drop back in trip doing Yuga Kawada's mount any favours. The leading hope for Japan, who dominated this race 12 months ago, is Lemon Pop. The Godolphin flag-bearer ran a blinder to win the Champions Cup from an awful draw last time out, but Lemon Pop didn't show at all in the Golden Shaheen - the only other occasion that he's raced outside of his homeland.

2024 Saudi Cup Tip 1 - Derma Sotogake

The first runner I want to back here is another Japanese hope, DERMA SOTOGAKE (13/2). Hidetaka Otonashi's four-year-old ran in the Saudi Derby on this card 12 months ago, where he was badly hampered by a slow start as two front-runners set blistering fractions, before staying on to finish a close third.

Christophe-Patrice Lemaire then decided to make the running in the UAE Derby at Meydan, where Derma Sotogake ran out a hugely impressive winner. That victory earned Otonashi's star a spot in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, but Lemaire's mount was slowly away again and couldn't finish any better than sixth.

On his first start since the Derby, Derma Sotogake ran a fantastic race in the Breeders' Cup Classic, losing out to White Abarrio by just a length. Otonashi's four-year-old had a little mishap in the plane travelling over to Riyadh, but Derma Sotogake has been working well in the lead-up to Saturday's race and a rapid mile-and-an-eighth should be ideal for this powerful finisher.

2024 Saudi Cup Tip 2 - Defunded

I also fancy an each-way punt on DEFUNDED (20/1), who'll be having his first start for local trainer, Abdulaziz Mishref. During his time in America, Defunded won three times over this nine-furlong trip, including an impressive triumph over two-time Saudi Cup runner-up, Country Grammer in the 2022 Awesome Again Stakes.

Defunded was last seen finishing a close second to Slow Down Andy as he attempted to defend his Awesome Again Stakes crown at Santa Anita. Mishref's recruit finished clear of both Senor Buscador and National Treasure that day, and both have gone on to boost that form by fighting out the finish in the Pegasus World Cup.

Luis Saez - who rode Maximum Security to victory in the inaugural Saudi Cup in 2020 - has picked up the ride on Defunded, who he'll know well having ridden against him in the US on several occasions. Stall nine isn't the worst draw in the world. At 20/1, Defunded offers plenty of value.

Saudi Cup Live Stream

If you want to watch this massive Grade One via your mobile or tablet, then take a look at our Saudi Cup Live Stream page.

Verdict

2024 Saudi Cup

Derma Sotogake and Defunded are our two against the field in the 2024 Saudi Cup.

Derma Sotogake

2024 Saudi Cup

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Defunded E/W

2024 Saudi Cup

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