Victorian racing on Wednesday heads to Sandown, where eight races have been set down. The track as of Monday night is a Soft 7 and with rain forecast for Tuesday, the track should remain in the soft range, with the rail out four metres, out from True the previous Wednesday.
Find Adam Page's best bets for Sandown below, and be sure to head over to our Racing Tips page, for more free tips from the key race meets around the country this week!
Sandown Racing Tips: Wednesday July 17th 2024
Race 5: Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap 1400m - 2.45pm AEST
I want to give (11) Free Willed another look here for Cindy Alderson. She ran two weeks ago and was very much on the plain side but with a Tongue Tie on for this race, I can only assume the tongue was over the bit last time hence the flop. First up run was a beauty and her best is certainly good enough.
(1) Awapuni Princess has been up a little while but is sneaky flying. This mare ran over 1300m a fortnight back where she was back and wide throughout but she kept finding the line and was really good in defeat behind Baroque Road. Gets in well after the claim, she likes wet ground and strikes a very winnable race.
(2) Fiasco Tess brings Synthetic form but she is a mare racing well and has previous metro form to say she commands respect. Last start came at Pakenham Synthetic when off the speed and kept finding the line in a really good effort behind Queen Of Tuscany. Maps ideally and the depth here isn't overly deep.
Also backing: Awapuni Princess - $7.50 at Dabble (1u)
(11) Free Willed
$5.00 (1u)
Race 6: Stow Storage Solutions Handicap 2100m - 3.20pm AEST
(4) Alhambra Palace looks completely missed in early betting. UK import that made his Australian debut at Sale and was one of the real eye catchers of the meeting I thought. Run off his legs early, he picked up late and was very strong to/through the line when eventually clear. He may want one more and 2400m, but the booking of B Shinn screams intent, he can settle much closer, up in trip...great each way gamble.
(11) She's A Con should be better for the run last Wednesday at this track/distance. She was five weeks between runs and condition just gave way late in the piece when second to Hard Squeeze. She'll take enormous benefit from that run and with a heavy track on the cards, she's hard to beat.
Interesting that D Lane jumps on (15) Northern Barrage given he rode She's A Con last week. Jockey choice or connections? Not sure, but this horse does have talent and is in a good camp of Mick Kent. Just too far back at Sale last time but third up and hard fit, his best is more than good enough.
(4) Alhambra Palace E/W
$10.80/$3.50 (1u/4u)
Race 7: Tile Importer Handicap 1200m - 3.55pm AEST
(5) Hanau is a good horse, I am convinced of that, so keen to see how he goes second up at 1200m. He resumed over 1100m a few weeks ago at Rosehill where he just wasn't quite dynamic as anticipated, perhaps finding them a bit sharp over 1100m fresh. Fitter, he trialled too well prior to ignore him.
(6) Layeruponlayer comes here with fresh legs for Matty Smerdon, several weeks between runs since racing at Morphettville Parks. He was on speed throughout and tried his guts out but couldn't quite see it through when a narrow second to Morris Minor, beaten as an odds on favourite but was still good in defeat. He'll press forward and be hard to beat.
If this track is heavy, include (4) Simply Optimistic in wider exotics. He is a swimmer and resumes after a two run Autumn prep where he found firm ground and wasn't suited. He gets conditions to suit here and he is a proven metro performer, so I wouldn't be dismissing him as a first four contender.
