Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Monday, August 5th.
The Darwin Cup kicks off the new week in racing in style! We've previewed the feature race of the day and also given our best bets for Echuca and Forbes below!
Horse Racing Tips: Monday, August 5th
Darwin Race 9 - Darwin Cup (Market)
The feature of the day and the year as far as top end racing goes is the Darwin Cup, a long time must for racegoers and partygoers alike, it is so unique to the Australian racing culture. (2) Lieder loves it on the sand, he has placed at the last two Darwin Cups and looks as though he is peaking at the right time. He bolted in to win by 10 lengths at Alice Springs for their Cup back in May, had a couple of months off with this as his target. He worked home well here fresh before showing he is right on song with a comfortable win two weeks ago. He will have plenty of support and isn’t getting any younger, it would be a sentimental win if he got the bickies. (1) Ihtsahymn is the obvious danger, he was racing the best in WA before going to the paddock. He had a stop at Broome on the way here for a win, then was here last week and stormed home late to get up right on the line. He looked good in that but this is harder and does have to carry the big weight which is a major concern. Sit back and enjoy!
Echuca Race 3 (Market)
(5) Steinbrenner has placed at 3 of his 5 career starts, he has good tactical speed and from the wide gate he will go forward and hopefully get the spot outside the leader. He was here at the track last start when he was forced three-wide without cover on the speed, was headed and looked like dropping off at the furlong but stuck on well to only go down narrowly. He has shown at his last two runs that he can do work and still be in the finish, this looks easier and hopefully he can control the tempo.
Echuca Race 7 (Market)
(3) Hard Up doesn’t win out of turn, he has only returned to the winners stall two times in his 16-start career, but he is so consistent. He was at this track six weeks ago and although he didn’t run a place, his run was huge after sitting three-wide on the speed. He then settled further back on the synthetic track at Ballarat, ran on strongly out wide and went down by the narrowest of margins in what was a blanket finish. He is drawn closer in today, should be able to settle handy and looks a great each-way bet. (2) Chevalier D’eon looks the main danger, she was good resuming behind an impressive winner and had contested a much harder race at the back-end of last prep. Happy to taker her on here though and wait for next start where she will be third-up.
Forbes Race 3 (Market)
There are a couple of first-starters here which poses a few unknowns, in particular (5) One More Poet with Greg Ryan aboard. If there is any money for him, I would be very wary but happy to look past a 5YO on debut. (3) Eaglehawk is still a maiden after 14 starts so there will be opposition to him in the betting no doubt, but there was a lot to like about his last couple of starts. Two back in a harder race at Moruya, he was caught wide in the back half of the field and ran on well when not entitled to. He then went west to Narandera and ran on well again from a lot closer and ran second but did have every chance. He should be at peak fitness here, maps well and Brendan Ward keeps the ride. Obviously respect any money for those on debut.
