Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Monday, May 25th.
There's three meetings across Australia on Monday, with Albury and Taree hosting seven races apiece, while Echuca has a nine-race program.
Luke Krahe has picked out his best bets from all three tracks below.
Horse Racing Tips: Monday, May 25th
Echuca Race 1 - (Market)
(4) Yulong Soldier has placed at all three runs, he was given plenty of time before making his debut at Wodonga with 5 official trials. He was well in the market at start one and sat three-wide on the speed, got outside the leader and stuck on well for third. He then stepped up to 1850m at start two, again sat up on the speed but found a couple better after having every chance in the run. Again, he stepped up in trip last start, past 2000m for the first time. This time they rode him more conservatively and he got back. He made a mid-race move three-wide no cover to get up on the speed, took over at the top of the straight but was no match for the impressive winner. It has proven a very good form reference with three horses winning out of that race, expect him to be ridden closer here and be very hard to run down.
Echuca Race 2 - (Market)
(4) Kutayha is a Waller trained gelding that has had just the one run, he was sent to Cranbourne on debut and straight to the 7 furlongs. He opened up favourite in the betting but was easy and started almost each-way odds in what was an open race. After getting back in the run, he got moving before the turn and was forced out very wide, running on strongly to just miss. He layed in badly up the straight and looks to have plenty to learn, staying at the 7 furlongs and with that run under his belt, he should be hard to hold out here.
Taree Race 4 - (Market)
(4) Special Union had two starts at his first prep, he was only fair on debut at Coffs Harbour before stepping out on a soft track at start two. He had a soft run in transit behind the speed, once he got clear he really accelerated nicely and came away for a dominant win by more than 2 lengths. He was sent to the paddock and resumes today after being gelded. It looks an open race on paper and the early odds looking appealing on an each-way basis. The query is the heavy track but the turn-of-foot he showed on eth slow suggests he should get through it well.
(4) Special Union E/W
$9.00
Albury Race 3 - (Market)
(1) Full Of Merit broke through for his maiden win at career start number last start, he was third-up and was coming off a couple of fair runs since resuming. His fresh run was on a heavy track and he led for a long way, he tired late so it was either not handling the track or just running out of condition coming back from the paddock. He looks beautifully drawn from the pole with the 3kg claim, should be scooting through early to lead and kicking away at the top of the straight. It will be heart in your mouth stuff over the last 100m as he will be getting tired. If he gets a soft lead and not attacked early, bet again in the run. (7) Sisters Esteem looks the other on-pace runner and should settle closer than what she did fresh, but she was awful when second-up last prep.
