This Saturday’s Doncaster Handicap is proving to be one of the best betting races of the season, with punters struggling to reach a consensus on Sydney’s premier mile.
According to Palmerbet CEO Grant Palmer, much of the market is waiting to see how the Randwick track plays before backing their selection.
“It’s a wide betting race at the moment with no pronounced favourite,” explained Palmer. “The big boys seem to be waiting to see the track before betting up.”
Race favourite Le Romain has proven popular with Palmerbet in pre-post markets and has received one of the biggest bets on the race so far.
“He’s a Group 1 winner two starts back and relishes the soft going so is deserved favourite. We’ve had one punter have $1,500 at $6.50 for the win, and expect that money to keep coming.”
Melbourne raider Redkirk Warrior has been the other runner punters have come for early, already backing the gelding from $15 into $10.
“We’re very keen on Redkirk Warrior who was terrific first-up in the Newmarket. He’s unbeaten second-up from three attempts but is untested in the wet. We had one punter snap up the opening $15 with a solid big bet, and they keep coming for him at $10.”
Fan favourite Happy Clapper has once again proven to be popular, landing some of the biggest bets after the barrier draw for the final field.
“We’ve already written several big bets for Happy Clapper, and the money just keeps coming. He won with a lot of authority last start, but we have a bit of a question mark over the opposition that day, so are happy to be against him.”
The other well supported runner Palmer is happy for punters to back is Palentino. The last-start winner has had some big bets already and has tightened from $17 to $10.
“Punters seem to have latched onto the fact he’s a wet tracker and loves the mile, however, we expect the inside of the track to be a no-go zone by race 9 and he now looks rock bottom odds.”
