The 2024 May Hill Stakes looks set to be a competitive renewal, with some of the best two-year-old fillies lining up for a shot at this prestigious Group 2 contest. 

Historically, the race has been a launching pad for future stars such as Laurens and Inspiral, and this year could see another talented filly emerge from the field of 10.

This year’s May Hill Stakes has plenty of intrigue, with several unexposed fillies looking to make their mark. While Desert Flower holds the best form going into the race, the Ballydoyle pair adds significant depth to the contest. 

With potential stars in the making, it’s a race worth watching closely for future clues on the next generation of classic hopefuls.

May Hill Stakes Runner By Runner Betting Guide

Here’s your detailed runner-by-runner betting guide for the Group 2 May Hill Stakes and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

🏇 3 – Desert Flower (3)

• Runner: Desert Flower
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 11
• OR: 110
• Jockey: William Buick
• Trainer: Charlie Appleby
• Betting Odds: 11/8

Desert Flower is a worthy favourite for the 2024 May Hill Stakes, with two impressive victories already to her name, both on Newmarket’s July Course. On her debut, sent off as the 5/2 second favourite, she showed clear signs of greenness early on but quickly made an impression as the race progressed. Despite a slow start, she made eye-catching headway and hit the front just under a furlong out, powering clear to win by over three lengths.

Her next outing saw her start as the overwhelming 1/4 favourite, and she duly delivered, winning by over six lengths with ease. The form from both races has worked out well, and she looks every bit the progressive filly. Being a daughter of Night Of Thunder, she’s bred for stamina and quality, which will be further tested as she steps up to a mile for the first time.

There is likely more to come from Desert Flower, and the manner of her victories sets a high standard for the others in the field.

Given her pedigree, form, and the ease with which she won her last race, she certainly looks the one they all have to beat in the May Hill Stakes.

✅ Impressive winner on bother her start
✅ Sure to relish the extra furlong

❌ Anything softer than good is an unknown

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Desert Flower with talkSPORT BET 🐎

🏇 4 – Ecstatic (6)

• Runner: Ecstatic
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 31
• OR: –
• Jockey: Ryan Moore
• Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
• Betting Odds: 5/1

Her debut performance offered mixed signals, as she finished a somewhat modest third, unable to match an impressive winner. However, she quickly made amends with a comfortable victory on her second outing at Tipperary, displaying that she’s improving considerably.

The step up in class here is undoubtedly a challenge, as she’s facing far stronger competition. What stands out is Ryan Moore’s decision to partner her over January, a filly with proven Listed and Group form. This suggests that she must be showing significant promise in her recent work at home.

Still, despite this confidence from Moore, I remain cautious about her chances here.

The quality of the field, coupled with her relatively limited experience at this level, makes her a tough proposition to support, especially in this field.

✅ The choice of Ryan Moore
✅ Much improved first to second run

❌ Likely to get taken on for the lead

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Ecstatic with BetMGM 🐎

🏇 6 – Flight (2)

• Runner: Flight
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 221
• OR: 90
• Jockey: Oisin Murphy
• Trainer: Ollie Sangster
• Betting Odds: 11/2

It took Flight three attempts to secure her maiden win, but when she did, she did so in a convincing fashion. While the opposition she beat wasn’t particularly strong, she did everything that was asked of her, winning comfortably.

The key to her chances in this race lies in how much she can improve with the step up to a mile. However, she has already been comprehensively beaten by Desert Flower at Newmarket, and it’s difficult to envision her reversing that form based on what we’ve seen so far.

Though it’s hard to see her winning outright against such a strong favourite, Flight could still be in contention for a place, especially if the extra distance works in her favour.

✅ Improving with each run

❌ Comprehensively best by Desert Flower already

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Flight with Spreadex 🐎

🏇 7 – January (5)

• Runner: January
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 2131
• OR: 100
• Jockey: Sean Levey
• Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
• Betting Odds: 8/1

January, the second of the Ballydoyle contenders, brings strong credentials to the table. With a Listed win and a Group placing already under her belt, she sets a solid standard in this race. 

Surprisingly, she has been passed over by Ryan Moore in favor of stablemate Ecstatic, which has caused her odds to drift in the betting. 

This shift makes her a standout value option, especially considering her prior form.

The step up to a mile should be a positive for her, and given the solid performances we’ve seen, she looks poised to take another step forward. 

At the current odds, January stands out as a tempting each-way bet, offering value in a competitive field.

✅ Group placed
✅Set a decent standard

❌ The most exposed of the runner

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on January with VBET 🐎

🏇 1 – Anshoda (1)

• Runner: Anshoda
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 121
• OR: 100
• Jockey: Billy Loughnane
• Trainer: David Loughnane
• Betting Odds: 9/1

Anshoda, who burst onto the scene with a shock 33/1 win on debut, has since proven that to be no fluke. Following that, she impressed again with a staying-on second at 66/1 in a Listed Fillies event at Sandown over 7f. 

Her continued improvement was highlighted in her recent victory in the Group 3 Prestige Fillies Stakes at Goodwood, where she thrived on soft ground.

The step up to a mile should suit her well, and with no concerns over the ground, Anshoda is a serious contender. 

She looks to be a solid choice, especially for a place, and should not be underestimated in this field.

✅ Group 3 winner
✅ No ground worries

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Anshoda with Copybet 🐎

🏇 5 – Elsie’s Ruan (9)

• Runner: Elsie’s Ruan
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 13
• OR: 95
• Jockey: Connor Beasley
• Trainer: Gemma Tutty
• Betting Odds: 16/1

Elsie’s Ruan was a big price winner on debut, showing some early potential, but she’ll need to take another significant step forward to be competitive in the May Hill Stakes. 

Her run in the Group 3 Solera Stakes was respectable, but based on her form so far, it’s difficult to envision her having the sharpness or class to win here against some very strong opposition. 

She may still have improvement left in her, but at this stage, she appears to lack the standout qualities necessary to take this.

✅ A winner first time up

❌ Needs to take a big jump in form

Star Rating: ⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Elsie’s Ruan with SBK 🐎

🏇 9 – Miss Tonnerre (4)

• Runner: Miss Tonnerre
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 1
• OR: –
• Jockey: Tom Marquand
• Trainer: Ed Walker
• Betting Odds: 25/1

A winner first time out in a 7f Novice Stakes at Newmarket’s July course, this filly’s form is questionable as none of her opposition from that race have gone on to win since. 

While she showed promise on debut, she will need a significant step forward in this much more competitive contest, and with only her maiden win to go on, she may be best overlooked here in the May Hill Stakes.

✅ A winner on debut

❌ The form of her Novice win is poor

Star Rating: ⭐

🐎 Bet on Miss Tonnerre with Betfred 🐎

🏇2 – Biniorella Bay (8)

• Runner: Biniorella Bay
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 2144
• OR: 92
• Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
• Trainer: Tom Clover
• Betting Odds: 40/1

Biniorella Bay has shown promise early in her career, securing a win at Newmarket’s July course. 

However, after a respectable 4th place finish in a Group 3 race in France, she returned to the UK and was soundly beaten by Anshoda, who also runs in this contest. 

Based on that form, she has significant ground to make up, and it would be a surprise to see her reverse that. 

A victory here would be a big upset.

✅ Plenty of experience

❌ Safely held by Anshoda

Star Rating: ⭐

🐎 Bet on Biniorella Bay with talkSPORT BET 🐎

🏇 10 – Serving With Style (7)

• Runner: Serving With Style
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 11
• OR: 84
• Jockey: Shane Gray
• Trainer: Karl Burke
• Betting Odds: 66/1

Serving With Style brings a perfect 2 from 2 records to the table, admittedly at a much lower level, but you can’t complain about an unbeaten record.

All be it that this is a huge step up in class, it wouldn’t be a shock if she to adequate herself well here, but she should be finding a few of these operating at a different level.

✅ Unbeaten record 

❌ This is a huge step up in Grade

Star Rating: ⭐

🐎 Bet on Serving With Style with SBK 🐎

🏇 8 – Minella Thriller (10)

• Runner: Minella Thriller
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 11
• OR: 71
• Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
• Trainer: Jack Channon
• Betting Odds: 125/1

Beat by Serving With Style already, this looks an impossible task set for Minella Thriller.

The most exposed in the field is just making up the numbers here.

✅ Will give their owners a nice day out

❌ Out of her depth.

Star Rating: ⭐

🐎 Bet on Minella Thriller with BetMGM 🐎

May Hill Stakes Verdict

The 2024 May Hill Stakes is shaping up to be an exciting renewal, with Desert Flower standing out as the likely star of the race. She’s been nothing short of impressive in her two career starts, both of which were dominant performances at Newmarket. Her rapid progress suggests she has the potential to dominate this Group 2 field, and it would take an outstanding effort from her rivals to beat her here.

Anshoda, fresh off a Group 3 win at Goodwood, and January, who has already proven her ability with a Listed win and a Group placing, are both solid contenders and look capable of mounting strong challenges. 

However, the form and star quality that Desert Flower makes her the stand-out selection.

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