Echuca, Wednesday 1 January
Form Analysis by Craig Rail
Race 1:
OVERVIEW: HILLSIDE (11) settled midfield and finished off strongly when a game second behind Settle The Bill at Shepparton last week. He should be at his peak form after having three starts back from a break and he strikes a suitable assignment so he must be considered as a winning chance. ARZALI (9) was resuming since February when he was driven aggressively to find the lead and finished third behind Dossier at Kilmore on Thursday. He should strip fitter from that run and is worth following. VAN DOREN (8) has won at his past two attempts under similar conditions and is worth thought again. ABBIE (3) found the line nicely when fourth at Shepparton last outing and has claims along with KYVALLEY PAINT (5).
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely early leader), 4,5
SELECTIONS: HILLSIDE (11), ARZALI (9), VAN DOREN (8), KYVALLEY PAINT (5)
RATINGS: 11/ 8,9/ 5/ 3/ 4,7
SUGGESTED BET: HILLSIDE (11) each way
Race 2:
OVERVIEW: TEX GOES BANG (8) has been racing consistently against similar opposition and gets his chance to break through for a win. He made a mid-race move to park without cover and battled on well for third last outing. MURIEL (4) led out then took cover when she scored over Tophut Johny (won since) two starts ago then couldn’t work into the race after commencing from the second line last week. She has won two of her past four starts against similar opposition and is worth thought again. FOUR STARZZZ RUBY (3) pushed forward to find the lead when she won at Shepparton on November 12 and is a good chance of finding the lead again. She has claims along with FAVOURITEHIGHLIGHT (9) and SKEDADDLE SHANNON (10) should be reaching his peak form after having three starts back from a long spell.
EARLY SPEED: 3 (likely leader), 2,4
SELECTIONS: TEX GOES BANG (8), MURIEL (4), FOUR STARZZZ RUBY (3), FAVOURITEHIGHTLIGHT (9)
RATINGS: 8/ 4/ 3,9/ 10/ 2
SUGGESTED BET: TEX GOES BANG (8) to win
Race 3:
OVERVIEW: HAND WRITER (1) is a fast beginner and is perfectly drawn over the sprint distance. She led throughout to win at Gunbower then followed with a second in a slick mile rate of 1.56.2 so she should take catching from the pole position. BRONSKI MOMENT (7) is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and has the perfect trailing draw behind HAND WRITER (1). He finished off well from the second half of the field to win at Shepparton on December 24 so he must be respected. FEELINGOODFREDDIE (9) is awkwardly drawn but he delivered a very strong performance to win in a mile rate of 1.57.4 at Charlton last outing so he must be included amongst the leading chances. MYNAMEISRUBY (3) and TOPHUT JOHNY (4) are both chasing winning hat tricks and are drawn to get close to the pace so they cannot be left out of calculations.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 2,3,4,5,6
SELECTIONS: HAND WRITER (1), BRONSKI MOMENT (7), FEELINGOODFREDDIE (9), MYNAMEISRUBY (3)
RATINGS: 1/ 7,9/ 3,4/ 2
SUGGESTED BET: HAND WRITER (1) to win
Race 4:
OVERVIEW: STARZINHEREYES (1) is a brilliant beginner and is likely to try and lead throughout from the pole position. She won in a slick mile rate of 1.56.5 two starts ago then followed with a second behind Milli Me at Kilmore. She appears to be hard to beat on paper but the step up in distance is of some concern. EASTBRO JESSE (7) has the perfect trailing draw behind STARZINHEREYES (1) and will be looking for the position behind the leader. He was a winner at Ararat three starts ago and he gets into this race with a concession claim so he rates as a value chance. SPORTS CHARM (5) ran a reasonable race when a distant fourth behind Beat Sweet in the Home Grown Classic at Melton last outing. This race is easier so she must be respected. BUDD SIDEWINDER (8) finished fast to get up and win on the line at Bendigo last week and should gain an economical run from his trailing draw so he is not without a chance.
EARLY SPEED: 1 (likely leader), 6
SELECTIONS: STARZINHEREYES (1), EASTBRO JESSE (7), SPORTS CHARM (5), BUDD SIDEWINDER (8)
RATINGS: 1/ 5,7/ 8/ 6/ 2,4
SUGGESTED BET: STARZINHEREYES (1) to win
Race 5:
OVERVIEW: SCHEMING (6) progressed forward to find the lead shortly after the start and dominated her rivals at Shepparton last week. This is a race of more depth but she is a strong mare and should be competitive again. VINSANITY (9) began quickly to find the lead and was able to hold his rivals at bay when he won nicely at Shepparton last week. He drops back to the second line now but he is building up a good record and should make his presence felt. AZOR AHAI (11) worked around the field mid-race to park without cover and battled on strongly for second at Mildura last outing. His overall form is strong and he is capable of overcoming the poor draw. LIKEABLE ROGUE (10) has been a revelation since coming from New South Wales having won six of his past seven starts. He finished off best to claim victory on the line in a mile rate of 1.55.6 last outing so he is worth thought again. There are many other chances in an open betting event.
EARLY SPEED: 4 (likely leader), 1,5
SELECTIONS: SCHEMING (6), VINSANITY (9), AZOR AHAI (11), LIKEABLE ROGUE (10)
RATINGS: 6/ 9,11/ 10/ 4,5/ 3,8
SUGGESTED BET: SCHEMING (6) each way
Race 6:
OVERVIEW: JOHNS BOY (1) is a former New Zealand trotter, which has joined trainer Brent Lilley. He was racing fairly in the Southland region but importantly, he is a brilliant beginner from the standing start and he could dash away to a big lead early being the only horse commencing from the front line so he is worth following. BLUE COMAN (6) is clearly the class runner of the field but he does face a tough handicap of 40m. The small field of six runners will offset the large handicap and he ran a game second behind Hephaestus Phoenix at Metropolitan level two starts ago so he is worth an investment. WATCH AND ACT (4) finished off well to win at Shepparton two starts ago then worked into a distant fourth last outing. He is racing well and looms as one of the leading chances. HERE COMES KYVALLEY (5) held his own in the Gunbower Cup last outing and has claims along with CHAMPAGNE CHARLEY (2).
EARLY SPEED: 1 (Likely leader)
SELECTIONS: JOHNS BOY (1), BLUE COMAN (6), WATCH AND ACT (4), HERE COMES KYVALLEY (5)
RATINGS: 1/ 4,6/ 5/ 2/ 3
SUGGESTED BET: JOHNS BOY (1) to win
Race 7:
OVERVIEW: EAGLE MAJOR (8) has been promising a win for some time and strikes a suitable assignment. He led when a close third (head) behind Momentum Shift at Shepparton two starts ago. SALSBOY (5) is capable of sprinting to the line quickly with the right trail forward and came from last when a close up fourth at Bendigo last week. He won three races in succession during November and must be considered as a winning chance again. TERROROAN (2) was held up for a run and should have finished closer than fifth at Bendigo last time. He led throughout at a Wagga victory prior and is drawn to give another forward showing. HESASTAR (3) left a trailing position to move up without cover when a handy second at Mildura on Friday and he should be competitive again.
EARLY SPEED: 2 (likely leader), 1
SELECTIONS: EAGLE MAJOR (8), SALSBOY (5), TERROROAN (2), HESASTAR (3)
RATINGS: 5,8/ 2/ 3/ 1,6/ 9
SUGGESTED BET: EAGLE MAJOR (8) each way
