Welcome to our harness racing preview and betting tips for racing at Albion Park, Melton and Menangle on Saturday, August 31st.
Trent Orwin has previewed some of the key races on the card below!
Harness Racing Tips: Saturday, August 31st
Albion Park Race 4 – 6:42pm AEST (Market)
The fast class race sees a field of seven engaged over the 2138m. (6) Northview Hustler comes up an odds-on favourite but I do think he is beatable and happy to support two runners in the race. (1) Watch Pulp Fiction has been placed in two of his past three starts; one of those was the Group 1 Sunshine Sprint (1660m). He was also fourth in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m). Major Cam proved far too good last start but Watch Pulp Fiction can go close here. (2) Chantrey ran second to Northview Hustler last week when beaten 2.2m. On that occasion Northview Hustler used the sprint lane to run down Chantrey. Will probably have to sit parked this time.
Value: (2) Chantrey $10
(1) Watch Pulp Fiction
$3.00
Melton Race 1 – 5:35pm AEST (Market)
A competitive NR 70-79 event that should see (6) Boncel Benjamin fly the gate to find the lead. (1) Shesa Tricky Bridge will be trying to boot through and hold the leader’s back. Boncel Benjamin has won eight from 20, including three of his past four starts. He led throughout in 1:56.4 to defeat an NR 48-79 field by 8.4m. A repeat performance here would see Boncel Benjamin very hard to catch. Shesa Tricky Bridge will be a threat late from the inside draw. (10) Rocknroll Eyes drops back from NR 70-89 company but will probably have to make a move to the death seat at some stage. Next best is (8) Pay Rise.
(6) Boncel Benjamin
$6.00
Melton Race 5 – 7:30pm AEST (Market)
A capacity field will line up over 2240m in this NR 80-94 race. (1) Forty Thieves will lead from the inside barrier with (6) Vandanta and (7) Shelby Bromac pressing forward at the start. The David Aiken-trained Shelby Bromac has been racing well with a win and two seconds from his past three starts. He has raced outside of the leader in his last two starts; he was beaten a half-head when lodging a protest that was dismissed and then narrowly defeated Beach Garden and (8) Somebeachshadow. Shelby Bromac should be able to sit parked once again and try and hold off Somebeachshadow who should be flying home.
Menangle Race 1 – 5:50pm AEST (Market)
The opening race on the Menangle program looks a good place to start with the Craig Cross-trained (6) Wrangler to be driven by Luke McCarthy. He was third in this class a few weeks ago when racing outside of the leader and beaten 10m by Gods Spirit and Brocks Territory. Wrangler looks a strong chance of working to the lead and he was victorious four starts ago in 1:51.1 when doing just that. (11) Franco Landry has the outside barrier and will either need to work forward to find the breeze or sit back and come with one run. He is first up from a spell.
