Welcome to our harness racing preview and betting tips for racing at Albion Park and Menangle and Melton on Saturday, May 11th.
We've picked out our best bets from each track below with five selections in total.
Harness Racing Tips: Saturday, May 11th
Albion Park Race 4 – 6:43pm
A very tricky C2+ to assess and I am happy to support (1) Beef City Blaze from the inside barrier for trainer Peter Greig. A 4YO gelding, Beef City Blaze was a winner in March when trailing the leader and using the sprint lane to win a C1-C2 race. He will probably take a trail with (2) Idealagain the most likely to find the lead from barrier two. No horse really jumps out at me in the race which is why Beef City Blaze looks over the odds at $17. Happy to take $7 or better for him to win.
Albion Park Race 5 – 7:10pm
(4) Tulhurst Ace was enormous in defeat last week when racing outside of the leader in a 1:55.7 mile rate for the 2138m. Top NSW reinsman Luke McCarthy picks up the driver and the 7YO entire looks very hard to beat in this M0 event. (3) Somepartysomewhere looks the likely leader and (6) Tom Me Gun can run the gate which could create some early speed that will suit Tulhurst Ace. Prior to his second, the entire was a 25.1m winner in 1:54.2. (9) Argyle Beach is also a strong contender in the race.
Albion Park Race 7 – 8:17pm
The fast-class race looks terrific with (6) Jilliby Bandit and (7) Colt Thirty One leading contenders. Barrier draw advantage goes the way of Jilliby Bandit who was a last-start M2-M4 winner at Melton in 1:53.7. He was placed in both starts before that victory at Melton with Lilac Flash proving superior in 1:51.6 and 1:52.3. He should lead and prove hard to catch. Colt Thirty One is the obvious danger but is beatable. (5) Saloon Passage looks next best.
Menangle Race 1 – 5:15pm
(4) Expressionist looks the most likely leader unless they decide to surrender. This is a more suitable race compared to recent runs against the likes of Ellmers Image and Majordan. Three starts ago he won in 1:50.5 and shouldn’t be far away in this race. The other horse that interests me is (6) Come Cullect who was a winner two starts back in the Group 3 Ranji Bill Stakes (1609m). Her last start second behind Redbank Addi last start was excellent and she should go close.
Value: (6) Come Cullect $11
Menangle Race 6 – 7:53pm
(1) Sassy Pants deserves to be favourite from barrier one on the front line in the Group 3 Bulli Trotters Cup (2300m). It is a standing-start race which should be competitive with (7) Drop The Hammer engaged. I like the price about the Darren Hancock-trained and driven 4YO gelding. He was fourth behind Majestic Player last start. His inexperience behind the tapes is definitely a concern but he did win his only start from the stand so that gives a little more confidence that he will behave again.
(7) Drop The Hammer
$7.50
