Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Sandown Lakeside on Monday, April 13th.
We've got an eight-race card on the Lakeside course this Easter Monday, with the track currently rated a Soft 5 and the rail out 3m.
Check out our race-by-race preview and betting tips below!
Sandown Lakeside Racing Tips: Monday, April 13th
Best Bet: Race 8 - (3) Mr Tipla E/W
Best Value: Race 3 - (1) Alburq / (3) Exteter
Race 1 (Market)
Good little maiden to kick things off! I have to stick with (4) Beau Zoom who I was with first up, when he led for a long way before being run over late to go down by 0.75L. He draws well again so should be able to find the front and Damien Oliver sticks with him. There is some query with the form as Bayvista did nothing to frank it with a subpar performance at Pakenham on Thursday night, but this race shapes nicely for him. (5) Boom Boom Becker ran a big race on debut in Stakes grade in Adelaide and followed that with another big run last start at Mornington, where he was also unlucky. He was held up until the 250m mark but charged home to be beaten a lip. The query is his running position on the Lakeside course, which can be tough to make ground on sometimes. (8) Deep Breath didn't have much luck behind Beau Zoom last start and Craig Williams goes on today which is a major jockey upgrade. (9) Laybuy returns from a spell as a gelding today. He had a very quiet jumpout at Flemington leading into this. Jye McNeil jumps aboard today and he has a lethal record when riding for Mike Moroney. He's ridden five winners and five placings from 14 runners for Moroney this season, while Moroney has a 21% strike rate on the Lakeside course. He has to be a bet at $11. Beau Zoom and Laybuy the two for me.
Race 2 (Market)
A race for the two-year-old fillies here and there's only one horse I'm really interested in and that's (5) Charm School on debut for Anthony Freedman and Mark Zahra. She's had two jumpouts leading into this, both at Balnarring. I thought her first jumpout over 750m was exceptional - she coasted to the line under no pressure at all and went straight past the rest of the field. Her second jumpout wasn't as impressive as the first but it was still good. She comes into barrier 6 of 12 after scratchings and should get a good run. I think she'll be tough to beat getting 2.5kg off the topweight.
Race 3 (Market)
Was originally very keen on Master Montaro here but he's been scratched and saved for another day. (1) Alburq was my best of the day on Saturday at Caulfield but he was scratched and comes here instead. Jumpouts don't get much better than what he produced at Flemington leading into this. First up last prep he ran 2nd to Rubisaki, which has proven to be a very strong formline. Given I was so keen on him on Saturday, I have to back him again here at double figure odds. (2) Exeter was another horse I tipped last week but he was scratched from that race and saved for this as well. He was good first up behind Excess Funds and Wayupinthesky, reeling off the fastest final 400m of the race. He won second up last prep and both career wins have been over 1200m. He'll be back off the pace but I think he'll flash home and might be worth having something on at $17. (9) Sovereign Legend was a terrific winner on debut and John Sadler declared him a week or two ago when the races were called off early. Not underestimating him. Something on Alburq an Exeter both at double figure odds, and save on Sovereign Legend at $4.40.
Race 4 (Market)
Competitive race but I like the set up of (6) Cryptic Jewel coming into this. She's been better than her form might read on paper so far this prep. First up he was held up most of the straight before charging home the final 100m. Second up she ran last in G3 company but she was held up just as she was starting to get warm, third up she ran the fastest final 200m in G3 company, and then last start in Sydney she underwent a vet check at the barriers before sitting wide without cover. Heavily back in grade today, up in distance to 2100m, with any luck she should be right in the finish. (2) Reflect The Stars and (4) Clementina have both been running against each other recently, with Reflect The Stars looking the more likely of the two to win a race soon. The query for me is that both horses drop in distance from two 2400m runs back to 2100m. (5) Touch Of Mink will go forward and isn't hopeless.
Race 5 (Market)
Tough race and won't be investing heavily here. (6) Jack Regan got the blinkers on last start stepping up to 2400m and they did the trick. He defeated Reflect The Stars and Clementina who should both run well in the race prior to this. We often see these Busuttin/Young horses keep their form when they suddenly discover it and the stable have a good record on the Lakeside course, so if the horse gets a good run from the wide gate like he did last start, he should be fighting out the finish again. (3) Budd Fox just keeps showing up and running well. He dropped back to 2400m last start t Bendigo but it didn't stop him making it back-to-back wins. He should roll forward from barrier 8 and there's no reason why he can't run well once again. It took getting up to 2400m last prep for (2) Humbolt Current to win a race and he gets to that trip at his third run back today. A firmer track will suit him much better and he gets a soft draw in barrier 2 so look for him to improve sharply.
Race 6 (Market)
Another good little contest here. (5) Orleans Rock draws terribly, he'll have to start from barrier 13 after scratchings, but I'm going to stick with him after a luckless run in defeat last start. He probably should have won but was badly held up in the straight before driving hard late to be beaten 1.3L by Beehunter. I also backed (2) Sonaree last start at $41 and he went down in the final stride after sitting outside the leader. There was a tactics change that day to say he would be ridden back, but they went against that and I'm hoping they go forward once again today because it's his best chance of winning, especially on the Lakeside course. He's run 2nd in two previous third up runs and if he can find a similar spot in running today, he'll give a really good sight at $15. (13) Excelman was well backed first up and ran home strongly to be beaten a length. (11) Hidden Legend finsihed ahead of him in that race but I think Excelman can turn the tables today.
Race 7 (Market)
Keen on (5) Excelida here for Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig and D Oliver. She finished down the track first up behind Excess Funds, but she always needs her first run back and she drops heavily in grade from that race. First up last prep she was beaten 4.5L in Sydney, before winning her second up run by 7.5L. Granted, that was in maiden company on the synthetic course at Pakenham, but if she improves like that from her first up run to today, she should be very hard to beat in this. Draws to get a beautiful run from barrier 4. (7) Here De Fox won two starts back at Kilmore and wasn't beaten far here last start on the Lakeside course after sitting wide without cover throughout. She can go close with the right run. (4) Sophia's Choice has been disappointing in her past couple of starts but getting back onto a firmer track today should see her run better than she did last start and she gets a drop in grade too.
Race 8 (Market)
Very keen to have something on (3) Mr Tipla here. He's first up from a spell today and there's a few things to note. He didn't come up last preparation, with three ordinary runs. He went straight back out and returns today with the concussion plates off, which indicates to me his feet weren't right last prep but they've got him sorted out now. To back that up, he jumped out really well at Cranbourne recently, winning his heat under a hold. His first up record is terrific, with three wins and a placing from five starts. His only first up failure came last prep when i don't think he was right. He draws wide here which is the negative but the stable is flying, so is Tom Stockdale, and I expect a big run from him at a good price today. (13) Zoubo makes its stable debut for Danny O'Brien today, formerly with Mick Price and Mick Kent Jr. She ran 2nd over this track and distance first up last prep and her other start at the trakc and distance was a win. If she's improved under O'Brien then she'll be hard to beat. (12) Taksu next best.
