Goldikova heads the returning defending Breeders Cup champs
Published:Winning a Breeders Cup race on one occasion is a tough enough achievement, but five horses are returning to Churchill Downs this year in the hope of successfully defending their titles, led by the mighty Goldikova.
Goldikova is a phenomenon in her own right as she is the only horse ever to have won three Breeders Cup races, thanks to her trio of victories in the Breeders Cup Mile.
She returns this year in search of a fourth straight success in the contest and has been backed into 13/8 to create more history.
Another returning champion is Chamberlain Bridge in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint and he is 8/1 to seal victory.
Despite his fine record at Churchill Downs of six wins from eight visits, the fact he is drawn on the wide outside in stall 14 could be too much of an obstacle to overcome.
Elsewhere, Big Drama returns for the Breeders Cup Sprint and has not enjoyed the most ideal preparation after a temperature meant that he had to be withdrawn from his last expected start.
This means he returns to Churchill Downs with just two runs under his belt since last year, but they have both been victories.
Big Drama is the 7/2 favourite to win the Breeders Cup Sprint.
Eldaafer is also in action on day two in the Breeders Cup Marathon and punters would be wise not to totally write off a year full of underachievement, as he was also largely unfancied when winning 12 months ago.
It is 12/1 in the Breeders Cup betting that Eldaafer wins the Marathon again and the race does look short of an obvious winner.
The only former champion in action on day one of the Breeders Cup is Shared Account, who is 16/1 to win the Fillies’ and Mares’ Turf and she triumphed at equally long odds 12 months ago.
In the Breeders Cup specials market, 6/1 looks decent value that two defending champions retain their title, while it is 1/1 that they are all beaten.
