Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for selected races at Sandown Lakeside, Randwick (Kensington) and Ascot on Wednesday, April 18th.
We’ve taken a look at all three cards and selected the races we’re keenest to bet into, and you can find our tips and comments on each of those below.
Best Bet: Ascot Race 6 #5 Finally French
Next Best Bet: Sandown Race 4 #6 Connery
Best Value Bet: Ascot Race 7 #8 Mekong Den
SANDOWN RACING TIPS
RACE 1
Three horses I’ll be focusing on here. (4) Night Falls follows the typical Weir path of country/provincial defeat early in the campaign and then straight to the city, i.e. a barrier trial first up at Pakenham and now ready to win in midweek metropolitan grade. Zahra booked for the ride is a strong lead. (8) The Rouseabout is a $7.50 chance and deserves respect. Happy to have something on at those odds. Went close at this track and distance on debut and then could only manage 3rd at Sale when an odds-on favouite. Has had seven weeks off and returns here with Melham booked to ride from the good draw. Definite chance. (9) Absolute Heaven was good without winning first up. Will go forward (big advantage here) and has the State’s in-form jockey aboard so looks another one to consider at $8.
TIP: (4) Night Falls / (8) The Rouseabout EW
RACE 3
Found it hard to split a few here but stuck with (2) That Rings A Bell who was huge first up under the 60kg at the Hillside course, charging home to win over 1300m. Carries the weight again today and will likely have to come from a similar position in running from barrier 8, but she’s up to better races than midweek grade and can win again here at $3. (1) Hectopascal and (3) Famelist the two hardest to beat.
TIP: (2) That Rings A Bell
RACE 4
(6) Connery comes off a strong maiden win as a long odds-on favourite at Stawell last start, where he won by 3.25L. If he derives some confidence from that victory then this race is well within his grasp. He draws well in barrier 6 and typically races on speed, which will be something in his favour at this track. $3.50 is a reasonable price in a race that seems to lack depth? I was originally keen on (2) Manhattan Arch but he gets the concussion plates on his front feet for the first time, which is cause for concern.
TIP: (6) Connery
RACE 6
Looks a nice race for (3) Platinum Angel and if she gets a good run from the awkward barrier then she’ll be very hard to hold out here. The barrier is concerning mainly due to the fact she’s going to get a long way back, but she was well backed in a Group 3 race won by Tulip two starts ago, where she had no luck, and was in the worst part of the track last start. She’s got more talent than what her record shows at the moment. Her price is short enough but with even luck I think she’ll win.
TIP: (3) Platinum Angel
RACE 7
One at a bit of odds that catches the eye here. (10) Dunlap is third up here from 21 months off the track (640 days). First up he ran 3rd over 1200m at 150/1, and last start he was a long way back but ran home strongly to be beaten 2.6L in 5th. His only previous third up run was a win, his only two wins have come over this distance and we’re getting $17. Needs luck from the inside draw – likely to be a fair way back on the inside with the 3kg apprentice on. But that’s why we will get a good price.
TIP: (10) Dunlap EW
RANDWICK (KENSINGTON) RACING TIPS
RACE 3
Tricky little race and I’ll be playing on a couple at good odds here. (6) Excelling is first up from a three-month break here, with one solid trial leading into today. His debut campaign was good, with a 2nd to Star Of Monsoon followed by a comfortable maiden win at Gosford. Can go forward from the wide barrier here and Bowman takes the ride – which should be ok now because Winx has gone for a spell! $7 looks a very good price. (7) Royal Phoenix is a roughie at $10 but has the potential to surprise here. He’s had a number of excuses in some of his runs, which means his record doesn’t look too flash, but he’s first up here with a solid trial win under the belt, draws well with Avdulla on board and finds a race he can be competitive in.
TIP: (6) Excelling / (7) Royal Phoenix EW
RACE 4
Pretty keen to have something each way on (2) Hoof Hustler at $7/$2.40 here. He follows a vey similar campaign to what he did last preparation, where he won third up from a spell when stepping up to 2400m. That’s exactly what he does today, so despite the fact his city form has all been very poor, he gets every chance to run a drum today from barrier 4 with Bowman taking over.
TIP: (2) Hoof Hustler EW
RACE 6
Like the Waller horses here. (9) Sexy Eyes has had a consistent campaign, and from barrier 4 here gets every chance to win another one. She’s won once from four starts this prep, and has been beaten 0.3L, 0.3L and 1.5L in her other three starts. $4.60 seems reasonable. (7) Awoke is the one that potentially is the better horse, and if she’s wound up to win first up then she’ll go very close. She’s won two of her four previous first up starts, including last preparation over a similar distance. The concerns here are the wide barrier, which means she’ll be ridden back, and the firm track. McEvoy goes on (10) Campaign which isn’t without a hope from the good draw.
TIP: (9) Sexy Eyes / (7) Awoke EW
RACE 7
Looks a nice race for (4) I Am Poppy who led first up at Warwick Farm and was only run down late to be beaten half-a-length. Drops from 59kg to 55kg here and looks certain to lead again from barrier 6, and from there, on a track with potential to favour leaders, she’s going to be hard to get past at $2.60. (7) Palladian hardest to beat.
TIP: (4) I Am Poppy
ASCOT RACING TIPS
RACE 1
(1) Prince Of Promises and (5) Cryptic Love look the obvious two here. They finished within a head of each other on debut in a $70k race 11 days ago. On that occasion, Prince Of Promises was backed from $16 into $9 but was trapped three-wide the trip and only went down by 0.25L. Cryptic Love drew wide, went back and ran home strongly in the straight. Both draw well today with Prince Of Promises in 1 and Cryptic Love in 5. It will come down to who gets the best run, but I thought given the torrid run Prince Of Promises had, his effort to finish 2nd had more merit, so with Pike taking over, he goes on top at $2.60.
TIP: (1) Prince Of Promises
RACE 2
Keen on one at good odds here. (2) Kenyluck comes up $15 here and that looks juicy odds. He finished 4th on debut behind Chix Pic (who was a leading contender in the Karrakatta Plate last weekend) before a luckless run last start when blocked the entire straight. Barrier 9 isn’t a bad draw here as it will hopefully allow him clear running, and Chris Parnham takes over from Steven Parnham today, which is a huge jockey upgrade. (5) Admiral Promo catches the eye with Pike taking the ride for Dan Morton.
TIP: (2) Kenyluck EW
RACE 5
Interested in the Peters/Pike runner (6) Forceful here at $4.60. This horse had nothing go right last preparation but has since had a long spell and he returns first up here. I thought his trial was very good, sitting three-wide without cover on the speed and still kicking to hold off all challengers. Draws well and Pike sticks with him after riding him in that trial.
TIP: (6) Forceful
RACE 6
(5) Finally French looks a big chance here at $4.40. This stable is in ridiculous form, with six winners and two 2nds from their past 10 runners! This horse sat outside the leader and drew clear to win by 2L on debut at York, which followed up three good trial wins. He comes to town now and finds a winnable race. Draws wide but should roll forward and sit on the speed again, which won’t hurt with the rail in the 13m position.
TIP: (5) Finally French
RACE 7
A bit of a throw at the stumps here with (8) Mekong Den at $10. Her preparation has been better than what it looks on paper. She was good first up when running 2nd, was then badly held up until the 200m mark second up, was beaten 0.5L third up, and then was blocked for the final 100m last start. Chris Parnham jumps back aboard today which is a plus and she’s drawn very nicely in barrier 6. With even luck, she will run a huge race here. The favourite (2) Blue Tracer is putting the writing on the wall but is still a maiden after 18 starts so $2.70 looks well and truly short enough!
TIP: (8) Mekong Den EW
