Galileo given encouragement Coral Eurobet have eased Point Given to 9-4 joint-favourite with Galileo for the Breeders` Cup Classic after an undistinguished victory in the Grade One Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park racetrack, New Jersey.The layers had originally left the American ace as 2-1 market leader but, after reviewing a video of the race, they decided to make the change.Coral Eurobet spokesman Simon Clare said: 'Point Given showed chinks in his armour last night, whereas our challenger Galileo has been a classy professional in everything he has done.'The crowd of more than 47,000 were kept on tenterhooks as the 1-5 favourite was forced to pull out all the stops to deny pacesetter Touch Tone, who at 13-1 was the outsider of the six-strong field.Jockey Gary Stevens produced Point Given on the outside coming out of the back straight.However, it wasn`t until the finishing line was in sight that the pair asserted their authority to win by half a length with Touch Tone holdingon for second place, a nose ahead of Burning Roma.Meanwhile, Scorpion`s victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes prompted Coral Eurobet to introduce him at 25-1 for the Breeders Cup Classic, while A P Valentine was eased to 25-1 after a disappointing fourth place.Point Given`s trainer, Bob Baffert, was highly delighted with the horse`s performance but much less enthusiastic about the ride given to the American superstar by Stevens.He said: 'He rode him terribly. I was a little concerned. He made that move down the backstretch a little too soon.'But he added over the horse`s effort: 'He was all heart. He won it on class.'Stevens, however, hit back by claiming he received late instructions from Baffert.'I`ve been riding for 22 years and I know how to ride this horse,' he insisted. Breeders Cup ClassicCorals betting: 9-4 Point Given (from 2-1), Galileo, 8-1 Albert The Great, 14-1 Skimming, E Dubai, Captain Steve, Tiznow, 16-1 Include, 20-1 Red Bullet, 25-1 Scorpion, Macho Uno, A P Valentine.
