Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for midweek racing at Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, December 20th.
We have an eight-race card on a Good 4 track with the rail out 12m the entire circuit. We had a particularly good week last week so we’ll be hoping to continue that form heading ino the busy festive period.
We have betting tips and comments for every race below.
SANDOWN HILLSIDE RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 6 Corrs EW
Best Value: Race 1 Richmond EW / Yesido EW
Race 1
This is a really competitive maiden to get started with, and I’ll actually be playing on two at longer odds that are first up from a spell here. RICHMOND is the first of those, first up since he finished down the track on debut in September. The form out of that debut race is hot, with the first three across the line being Wassergeist, Weather With You and Villermont. He’s had a couple of jumpouts at Flemington recently leading into this, and despite jumping fairly slowly in both, he travelled well and looked to have plenty in the tank. Hopefully he can jump a bit cleaner today and if he does, I’d expect to see him run a good race here at $13. YESIDO is another that’s first up from a spell. This horse has placed five times from 11 starts and has run 2nd in two of his three first up runs previously. His jumpout at Flemington leading into today was particularly good. He led comfortably throughout and was never asked to extend, eventually being nabbed on the post to run 2nd under a hold. If he can get a comfortable lead here it wouldn’t surprise me to see him be there for a long time at $19. AMSCHEL, BLINKY O’REILLY and FIX THE DATE all come through the same race at Bendigo, where they all finished alongside each other. Of the three, I’d probably side with Amschel. Weir’s HERMANITO shouldn’t be underestimated – always take notice when he brings horses to town off country runs at their last start.
TIP: Richmond EW / Yesido EW
Race 2
With the Lindsay Park debutante EL PHOENIX here. I can’t seem to find a recent jumpout at Flemington for this horse, but we know he will be well educated and ready to go on debut here. David Hayes is a part-owner so he wouldn’t be sending it to the races if it couldn’t win. He’s had good support in early betting which is ominous, and from barrier 1 with Mark Zahra aboard he looks as if he can win this. $4.60 is the best we’re getting after as much as $8 was available. ANOTHER FLAG has run 2nd at its past two starts and it wouldn’t need to improve much to feature in the finish again here. LAST LIGHT looks to be the value runner for the red-hot Ellerton/Zahra stable, who have their horses flying. This horse only ran 2nd in a maiden at Terang last time out, but he was held up until the 200m mark and finished off nicely once he was clear. CAPTIVATOR brings some good formlines to the table but his best performances have thus far come on synthetic surfaces so he remains some query to me.
TIP: El Phoenix
Race 3
Another super competitive race. I’m concerned about the drift on BUCK BAY here who has been $3.60 out to $6 this morning, but I’m banking on the fact the $3.60 was a ridiculously short price to start with, and he’s around his right price now. This Weir horse won dominantly on debut at Hamilton, coasting home hands and heels only to score by 2.25L. We’ll get a gauge on the form when Hermanito goes around in the first race, but his horses normally improve when they come to town so with $6 now available I think he’s a good enough price. But this race isn’t short of depth. There’s a few at longer odds that are worth keeping safe. HAKERAK was luckless first up at Mornington, striking trouble at the 200m and 100m marks in the straight. Can run a big race here from the wide gate, which will allow him clear running room. KAPTIVE HERO trialled nicely leading into his first up run here and gets in-form Fred Kersley aboard. SKY PUNCH measured up in some good races last prep. Notably ran 2nd to Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss on debut. First up today and I really wouldn’t be surprised to see him win. Think he’s a great chance. FLASH CASH was luckless on heavy ground last time out and gets Damian Lane booked for the ride today. JUSTSIMMER has been well supported after bolting in on debut at Geelong over 1100m. He won by over five lengths on that occasion and is sure to go forward here with the featherweight for Chris Caserta, who is riding very well. ROYALE EFFORT not hopeless.
TIP: Buck Bay / Hakerak EW
Race 4
Looks a race in two here between HOLY SEAL and BOORADLEY here. At the prices, I have to side with BOORADLEY who comes off a hot jump out leading into this. Last prep he bolted in first up when breaking his maiden, and went on to be very competitive against some good opposition. From barrier 1 I suspect he’ll get a trail behind the leaders and at $4.20 I’d rather be backing him than Holy Seal at $2.40. HOLY SEAL is also first up here after a very solid debut campaign which saw her win twice and place three times from five starts. She does get the aid of a 2kg claim here so she gets in better than Booradley, but I’m not sure she’ll be able to lead here. I just think she’s a touch short at that price and therefore I can’t back her. No surprise if she wins though. The blowout could be SCUZI who is also first up here, and has won three times from four starts when first up. He’s not as classy and his racing has been done in easier grade, and his three wins have been on soft ground, but he could run a cheeky race at $26.
TIP: Booradley / Scuzi EW
Race 5
Another competitive race. There’s been a decent go on Weir’s STORM HARBOUR, and I’d expect him to be hard to beat here back on firm ground after running 5th to Vinland on a heavy track last start. That’s genuine Saturday form and his only two starts on good ground have been wins, so that should be the key here. Gets a nice claim for Ethan Brown and draws well. WHISTLER BOWL was dominant in winning his maiden last start over this track and distance. The step up from 1400m to 1800m really seemed to suit him and he cruised home to win by just under three lengths. He’s likely to go forward and lead and looks as if he’ll be hard to run down once again. DOMESTICATED looks set to peak third up here after a good effort when running 2nd last start. Has won its only third up run previously. Needs a good ride from Fred Kersley from barrier 15. The money came for ADATTO at big odds last start to suggest he would run well and he very nearly pulled it off, just going down narrowly over this track and distance. Can run well again. GOLD ARTISAN the blowout.
TIP: Storm Harbour
Race 6
Absolutely no standouts in this race and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a blowout result here. I’m most interested in backing CORRS at a good each way price around the $10 mark. This horse is from the Matt Cumani stable which is going superbly, and Linda Meech takes the ride which is a big positive for me. This horse broke its maiden three starts ago before running 2nd over 2200m two starts ago. Last start it ran 6th over the Lakeside course here, which was its first go over 2400m, and it just peaked on its run in the final 100m. It should improve with that run under its belt and I like that it’s one of the few horses in the race that has had the run over 2400m leading into this race. Keen to have an each way bet. Another one at a good each way price that appeals is SAVALAND at $12. This horse won first up from a short let-up over 2000m three starts ago. It then placed behind Etah James, which is a horse in form that’s continued on to win multiple Saturday races. Last start it went to the synthetic and finished second last, but he gets back on turf here and gets the blinekrs back on, so expect improvement. MICHELIN is every hope coming out of some good races and has also had two runs over 2400m coming into this, while GRAND CASINO has been well backed on the back of an eye-catching run behind Vinland last start. Big query jumping from 1600m to 2400m though. FRANKLIN LANE another to include at good odds.
TIP: Corrs EW / Savaland EW
Race 7
Another race where not much stands up but I’m keen to take a couple of the favoured runners on and that leaves me with a couple of others by default. Keen to take on SENSATION ALLY who ran well first up but has had four stats second up for no placings. Also keen to take on TRINITY HILL who was fair first up but also hasn’t done anything of note second up previously. That leaves me with HECTOPASCAL on top. She’s been around the mark this preparation and now gets the blinkers applied for the first time. Ethan Brown takes over from Ben Allen which is a jockey change I like, and now that she’s fit, the blinkers should bring about improvement. She gets her chance today and with $5 available, an each way bet on her is the way I’ll be playing. ALMA’S ROSSA looks well placed as well, and I’ll be saving on her. She’s been good in two starts back from a spell and now looks set to peak third up. NICODAME can bonce back from a poor showing last start and should be included at double figure odds. CYMBALISM is the interesting runner in the race. She’s done absolutely nothing up in Sydney in three starts this prep but you always have to take notice when Waller switches horses to Melbourne.
TIP: Hectopascal EW
Race 8
Wide open finish to the card. Interested in backing TANGO ROCK each way. He was given a very quiet ride first up at Moonee Valley and didn’t really have a hope. He gets out to a much bigger and more spacious track here, and he’s won two of his three second up races previously. He draws wide and carries a big weight again but he should get his chance today. I can entertain $11. This is the easiest race DUSTY JACK has contested for some time and he has a winning chance despite carrying 60kg here. He just didn’t go on the heavy ground last time out but he’s undefeated at this distance and goes much better on good ground. WAZZENME was poor last start but can bounce back, MR LIBERTY comes off a dominant win in easier grade but has won two from four when third up so must be included, and IT’S A SHAME BILLY was good first up and should improve here. SOHOOL was fair first up at the Valley but all of his wins have come on synthetic tracks which is a concern for me. SIMPLY INVINCIBLE gets Craig Williams aboard but has only placed once from three starts when first up. SANDHURST DELIGHT not the worst. Dusty Jack, Tango Rock and Wazzenme are the ways I’ll be playing.
TIP: Dusty Jack / Tango Rock EW
QUADDIE
3, 4, 5, 6, 11
1, 6, 9, 11, 14
2, 3, 4, 6, 8
2, 4, 7, 8, 10
$100 = 16%
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