Boxing Day races all over the state of Victoria will be in force on Monday with Sandown Hillside the venue at Ladbrokes Park for the main meeting in the state.
While not as big as the Boxing Day Test cricket, Boxing Day racing continues to be a tradition with many country clubs getting their chance to shine.
Good weather conditions are expected over the Christmas period with the track likely to be rated a Good 4.
Brendan Bunworth is back with his preview and free racing tips for the Sandown meeting.
Sandown Racing Tips: Monday December 26th (Boxing Day)
Race 2
(3) Dunkel has impressed in both starts. On debut it was a good win after coming from well back at The Valley and he backed that effort up with a close 2nd, again after coming from om the speed. He will likely try the same tactics here and settle around sixth to eight in the run. His latest Cranbourne effort was on a Good surface and that is what we should get on Monday.
(1) Hard to Cross is going for three on the bounce after winning at this track on a similar surface last start. He will settle around midfield and make his run with Dunkel.
(2) No Drama has drawn well in gate 3 for Lindsay Smith and Jamie Kah and will have benefited from his third here last time after a one month freshen up.
(4) Rajnish is consistent and in fine form for Nick Ryan and will settle on pace in this one.
(3) Dunkel
$2.40 (3 units)
Race 3
(5) Princess Rhaenys has won two races on Good tracks and Dan Stackhouse rode her to a nice 3rd last time out at this track and in an easier race, she should be right in this. Back in the Spring Carnival she wasn't disgraced when 4th in the Inglis Bracelet so she will appreciate rivals of her current status here.
(6) Beretta was good to the line when 4th at this track last start. Before that at Sandown Lakeside he was beaten a nose and he is another who appreciates dry tracks which he didn't get in the Spring.
(8) Austrata was a length behind Baretta last start and they should be in similar spots here again. He goes better on the dry despite running 3rd on the Soft ground at Lakeside two starts back.
(3) St Lawrence will start favourite and is still unbeaten. Will carry 61kgs again.
(5) Princess Rhaenys
$5.00 (1 unit)
Race 7
(3) Andermatt for James Cummings and Jamie Kah goes on top here. He has won 5 from 13 starts and despite going better on the Heavy tracks, he can handle the dry too.
He was 10th to Nature Strip in the Group 2 The Shorts and before that he wasn't disgraced behind Eduardo when 4th. If close to 100 percent fit after a short spell, he should be winning this.
(8) Rose Quartz unfortunately was costly for punters last time out up the straight at Flemington when 4th but does get her preferred dry ground again here. The concern is that it has been 10 months since her last win but she hasn't had much luck with track conditions. Trainer Graheme Begg is more confident in this race than he was last start when she went around $2.10.
(5) Felica is on the improve again for Peter Snowden and he is having his second start with her after a 5th last start.
(2) Jigsaw has been freshened for this and did win a Cranbourne jumpout last week.
(4) Ashford Street won well at Flemington last week but this is harder. Place chance only I think.
(3) Andermatt
$2.60 (3 units)
Race 8
(15) Heskett is 100 percent fit for this and in his last couple of runs he has stuck on very well to remain in the placings. He is up in class so you will want each-way odds in this. He likes the dry ground and he has won at this distance before. Dan Stackhouse stays on and he will look to settle him midfield from barrier eight.
(11) British Columbia resumes after a seven month spell and he has placed first up before. He is 2 from 5 on Good tracks and will be on pace throughout.
(6) Star Spirit won for favourite punters at Warrnambool last start and Dec Bates stays on. Has won 2 from 6 on the dry.
(3) Lina’s Legend is better than his form says and he will be the one having the last charge at them. He got too far back from a wide barrier at Lakeside last time (11th).
(15) Heskett
$9.00 (1 unit)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 1, 4, 7
Leg two: 2, 4, 5
Leg three: 3, 8
Leg four: 3, 6, 11, 15
