Breeders' Cup Tips: Friday Predictions & Best Bets for Del Mar
Craig Jones 
It's time for night one of the Breeders' Cup from Del Mar, and I hope you're as excited as me!
Below are my Breeders' Cup tips for the first evening of action, as well as the latest odds from UK betting sites for the races I'm looking at.
British hopes rely mainly on Aidan O'Brien all weekend, but especially this evening, where he holds some really live chances of success for the Europeans.
Breeders' Cup Tips
I've got three selections exclusively on Free Bets for Friday night, coming in the three juvenile turf races on the card, where there's plenty of European interest.
And if you want a spoiler before you read, Aidan O'Brien has the current favourite in all three races I'm looking at, but I'm not siding with any of those three selections.
All have questionable draws, especially the last two, and I always find getting out and across much tougher in the US, where the racing can often be a little more physical than in the UK.
Tip 1: 9:45pm Del Mar - Brussels EW
The first of my horse racing tips is an Irish challenger from the Aidan O'Brien yard, but not the main hope of theirs, which is True Love.
Instead, I like Brussels each way, who looks to offer much better value. Brussels dropped down to the minimum trip of five furlongs last time out, and ran a really good race finishing second in a Newmarket Group Three.
He's got a lovely draw in one, to further help him out, much better than True Love, who has the negative of being drawn out in nine. I also think she'll struggle with the drop down to 5f here, she's been strong in the last furlong on recent starts over further.
UK and Irish runners dominate the top of the betting, but I think Brussels is the best value of the lot.
- Recommendation: Brussels (EW) at 17/2 with Priced Up (4 Places)
Tip 2: 11:05pm Del Mar - Time To Dream EW
Hot favourite in the 11:05pm race is Precise for Aidan O'Brien, she could be special but I think she'll have to be to win from stall 13, and at just over evens, I'll pass and look for each way value against her.
This leads me to the American runner Time To Dream, winner of her first two starts before finishing third last time out.
She had two of today's rivals in front of her that day, Imaginationthelady and Infinite Sky, but I think the selection can turn the tables.
On that day, she was aggressively held up, and came with a really strong run, but it was all too late. They'll have learnt plenty from that, and she's 2lb better off at the weights for being beaten a length.
She's got a slightly worse draw than the two she's against, but at double figures each way, I'll give her a chance to turn the tables here, and at least place.
- Recommendation: Time To Dream (EW) at 11/1 with Talksport Bet (4 Places)
Tip 3: 12:25am Del Mar - Outfielder EW
The last of my Breeders' Cup tips is another each way pick, and another pick against an O'Brien hotpot.
Outfielder is the horse I like, an Amo Racing runner trained in the US, who holds some really nice form, including when behind Gstaad, the favourite here.
Again, a tricky draw for the favourite, Gstaad is in 14, while Outfielder comes from the three box. After looking like the potential star of the year to begin, Gstaad has now finished second on his last three starts.
One of those came at Deauville, where he was just over two lengths ahead of Outfielder. But I think meeting in the US, back home for Outfielder with no travel, and the draw, can help bring these two much closer together.
Outfielder has only ran in one top race so far, that at Deauville, his other two contests have been minor events at home, where he's won both. A nice prep run started the month, I think he'll be primed to hit the big stage here and go close.
Up two furlongs in trip is the main question mark, but on breeding, he should get it.
- Recommendation: Outfielder (EW) at 7/1 with Paddy Power (4 Places)
Horse Racing Tips on Free Bets
We've got a range of experts on site providing betting tips for the weekend, and when it comes to horse racing in the UK, we've got Alan Kelly and Charlie McCann providing the low down.
Tips for the day are live on their dedicated pages, if you're also wanting to look at the UK action.
