Spanish racing doesn't get the credit that it perhaps deserves. Some picturesque racecourses, with well bred horses and competitive action, the lack of attention shone on this area of the sport is a real shame. Most UK Bookmakers offer betting on racing from Madrid, Dos Hermanas and San Sebastian, but there is very little attention or focus paid to it and that perhaps leaves it as one of the last real "edges" in European racing. There is a fascinating 5-race card at San Sebastian this morning and having looked through the racing, the opening race at 10:35 (UK) would appear to offer the best betting opportunity at a big price.
10:35 San Sebastian - DUNYA - 0.25pt Each-Way - 25/1 Bet365
The most likely winner of this race is Battle of the Nile. He won a Nursery handicap for James Ferguson at Wolverhampton last summer when he was owned by Qatar Racing. Oisin Murphy gave him a perfect ride that day and he looked to be an improving type for handicaps. He never raced again in the UK, but finished 2nd on his comeback at Deauville on his return and has since run with credit when 5th in a Class 2 event at Bordeaux last month. Either of those efforts would probably be enough to win this race, but with very little study put into the Spanish form, his history and his profile is likely to make him far too short in the market to consider as a betting proposition. He has won a race, which sets him apart in this field and provided he gets a clear run, he should probably have too much class for his 7 rivals.
There are several runners in this field who have raced in the UK, Ireland or France, so we can get a decent handle on the form. Bee In Your Bonnet was an 8-race maiden in France when trained by Florian Gudayer. Fiji Gold had 8 starts for Robert Cowell, achieving a rating of 56, but failed to get her head in front. She finished 3rd in Madrid last month, when she was off the bridle for a long way. She deserves great credit for the attitude she showed, but that leaves her with a career tally of 0-12 and she looks very one paced. Whilst Coolmeen Vega struggled to beat a horse home in 4 starts for David O’Meara, though it should be noted that he was backed into 7/4 favouritism for his final start at Wolverhampton in January, where he again disappointed. Unless the newcomer TinTin is above average, this race has a fairly weak look to it away from the favourite and that could give a decent opportunity for an each-way bet on DUNYA if you’re seeking an alternative to the Favourite. She had 4 starts as a Juvenile, finishing 2nd and 3rd at this track on her first 2 visits to the track. On her last start in Spain, she finished 6th, but is best forgiven that effort as she missed the break and gave the field a 15 length head start, to her credit she kept on under a gentle ride but she is better judged on her 2nd and 3rd placed efforts. Her connections sent her to Tarbes in France in October, but she was struck into and heavily eased down. Given a break since, she is of interest in this field and as a daughter of Kool Company, she should appreciate the better ground at San Sebastian. If breaking with the field, she has shown enough ability to suggest she can at least hit the frame, for all that she will need to significantly improve to beat Battle of the Nile.