Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Sandown Hillside and Canterbury on Wednesday, May 8th.
Sandown is currently a Good 4 but there is some significant rain predicted, so we could see the track downgraded if it hits. Canterbury is a Good 4 and will remain in that range.
We've picked out six selections from the day's racing below!
SANDOWN HILLSIDE RACING TIPS
RACE 2 - 1.05pm AEST
Will just be backing two horses here. (12) Global Sanction goes on top after a sound first up effort at Pakenham over 1200m, which is way short of her best distance. She was beaten just over 2.5L and there's already been four horses come out of that race and win in the space of three weeks, so the form looks quite strong. The step up from 1200m to 1500m should really suit Global Sanction here, and although she's drawn wide in barrier 12, she should get her chance to wind up on the Hillside course. Has a good second up record and has won on wet ground so she's well placed. At $6.00 I think she's the way to play. I'll be saving on the favourite (4) Sonaree, who won by 5L at Geelong two starts back and was good again last start when 2nd at Pakenham.
Save: (4) Sonaree $2.45
(12) Global Sanction
$6.00
RACE 3 - 1.40pm AEST
Again, another two-horse play here. The favourite (3) Not Enough Effort should prove hard to beat after a fairly dominant first up win over the track and distance, which kept his unblemished record intact. He led all the way on that occasion and he carries the same weight today, so from barrier 4, he should be able to kick up and lead once again. He's only rising from BM64 to BM70 company and he looks well and truly capable of handling that rise in grade. (1) Ben Hercules looks the value at $7.50. He was only fair first up at Cranbourne but he bounced back with a narrow victory at Ballarat last start, where he beat Propelle. Propelle then came out and won easily at Caulfield. In fact, there's been three horses come out of that Ballarat race and win, so the form behind Ben Hercules is good. Ben Hercules led when winning that race, so from barrier 10, we might see him ridden aggressively to perhaps sit outside Not Enough Effort. Happy to back both.
Value: (1) Ben Hercules $7.50
(3) Not Enough Effort
$3.10
RACE 6 - 3.30pm AEST
I backed (2) Vow And Declare first up and he was beaten 0.2L over 1710m at Flemington. It was a very solid effort and he should improve quite a bit with that run under the belt. He was a Listed winner over 1800m last preparation and prior to that he won over 2380m, so the step up in distance should suit him today. He takes on the older horses today but Craig Williams takes over the ride from Fred Kersley and from the good draw he should prove very hard to hold out. (3) Cape Richards is worth having something on at $8.50, which looks over the odds to my eye. He was very well backed first up at Pakenham but didn't get the greatest amount of luck, eventually beaten half-a-length in 3rd. He's undefeated from two previous second up runs and with a bit more luck today, he's definitely capable of causing a minor upset. (7) Master Of Wine was solid at his first Australian start and will run well again with the step up in trip.
Value: (3) Cape Richards $8.50
(2) Vow And Declare
$2.50
RACE 7 - 4.10pm AEST
If you backed (1) Bass last start, it's probably worth following your money and buttering up again today. He was given a head scratcher of a ride as the $2.30 favourite at Flemington, with Darmanin electing to go forward on a hot pace despite the stable saying he'd be ridden with cover. He was always going to be slightly vulnerable stepping up from 1800m to 2500m but that hard run will likely bring him on plenty. He stays at 2400m today and drops from Open Handicap company to a BM70. He carries all the weight but he deserves another chance.
CANTERBURY RACING TIPS
RACE 6 - 4.00pm AEST
(4) Kolding returned from a gelding operation in very good style, winning cosily by 1.5L at Kensington after settling at the back of the field. I don't think we'll see him ridden as conservatively today from barrier 1, otherwise he'll have a bit of trouble finding clear running in the straight. He did show the ability to sit handy to the pace prior to his short spell, so I'd suspect we will see him somewhere around midfield. James McDonald keeps the ride and based on his last start win, he can win again here. Outside of him, there's a couple at good odds worth including. I think the value is (1) Chapelco at $19. He was well beaten first up but he didn't get a lot of luck and that was a relatively strong Saturday race; the form was franked through Passage Of Time last weekend. He drops to midweek company here and he tends to go pretty well second up. Should roll forward to sit on speed which is advantageous at Canterbury and it wouldn't surprise me to see him run a big race at big odds. (3) Forever Newyork is another roughie capable of running well. He's got a good first up record, has four wins from six starts at the distance and has won his only start at the track and distance.
Value: (1) Chapelco $19 & (3) Forever Newyork $15
RACE 7 - 4.40PM AEST
Really quite keen on the Godolphin horses here, in particular the favourite (9) Gododdin. I really don't think this is a strong race and this horse is fresh from a spell having trialled in very nice style. He won his first trial, held together out the front, before running 2nd to Nature Strip in his most recent jumpout. He showed great early speed in both of those trials so from barrier 1 we can expect him to be right up on the speed here. He finished last preparation by running 4th in Group 3 company and although he's first up from a long spell today, I think he's clearly got the most upside in the race. James McDonald is booked to ride which is always a strong indicator, looks very hard to beat. Biggest danger could be the stablemate (7) Medovina.
