2025 Criterion Stakes Betting Tips

Lake Forest is likely to go off as favourite for the Criterion Stakes. William Haggas trains a four-year-old who was last seen finishing fifth at Ascot. Sent off at 14/1 in the Queen Anne Stakes at the royal meeting, it was a very solid effort from the runner, with this coming after finishing fourth out of seven when appearing in the Prix du Palais-Royal.

Back in November, the horse produced a strong effort when obliging in the James Squire Golden Eagle. This took place at Rosehill in Australia, with the 18/1 shot stunning everyone with a solid effort. However, some punters might be in search of a bigger price and Formal was an impressive winner at Epsom in a previous effort.

That victory came in the Surrey Stakes where the horse was able to score over seven furlongs. That was after failing to make an impression in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes, with Audience another one for consideration. It’s been a while since the horse won and it was a slightly disappointing effort when finishing seventh as 15/8 favourite in the John of Gaunt Stakes.

Paborus is the horse that catches the eye at a decent price. Edward Bethell saddles a four-year-old who was impressive when scoring at Thirsk in April. The 6/4 favourite was able to oblige over seven furlongs when scoring by over two lengths. That came after an October success on the all-weather at Southwell, with the horse now bidding for a hat-trick.

2023 Criterion Stakes Tips

Aldaary could take all the beating when it comes to the 2023 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, with the five-year-old having the potential to shine on the July course. Over seven furlongs, there should be a strong performance from a horse returning to the track after a year’s absence, although it was plain sailing in the Pertemps Network Spring Trophy at Haydock.

Back in October 2021, there was a victory in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot, with that coming after a previous success at the same course. Indeed, the horse has won its previous three outings although such a lengthy absence might compel punters to look for an alternative selection and Pogo ticks a lot of boxes.

The Charles Hills-trained runner isn’t necessarily going to be a warm order with customers who look at the horse’s form, although tenth place in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot was understandable at odds of 125/1, while the horse was also in esteemed company when finishing well down the order in the Al Quoz Sprint.

Indeed, this is a horse that has lined up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and there’s also Berkshire Shadow who could be a real force as a four-year-old. There were wins at Wolverhampton and Newcastle earlier in the season before a third placed finish at Newbury and then a fifth-placed finish in the Queen Anne Stakes which means he could be a good each-way selection.