Sandown Park Greyhounds Tips & Betting Preview April 24th 2014
Race 1 – 515M Grade 5 – 7:05PM
After scoring three breathtaking wins in March, the exciting Oscura has experienced no luck in his three subsequent runs. Tonight he has a slow beginner drawn underneath and if he can step on terms he should get a nice sit on fast beginner Access. With an ounce of luck he should prove too strong in the run to the line.
Access is a reliable beginner and he should be able to burn to the early lead tonight. Two starts ago he was nabbed in the shadows of the post in a heat of the Launching Pad and with another 515 metre run under his belt he should be able to hit the line a little strong tonight.
Ever Alert is the interesting runner, after a slow start he powered to the line when scoring at Bendigo in 23.74 last start. Tonight he makes his metro debut and he gives every indication that the 500 metre trip will suit. My only concern with him is that he can be slow to begin and it may get rough as they head into the first bend.
Top Four: 3 – 2 – 7 – 6
Suggested Bet: Trifecta 3/2,6,7/Field ($18 for $1)
Race 2 – 515M Grade 5 – 7:25PM
The draw makes things difficult but I think we have found some value with Mepunga Ledger. He is a notoriously slow beginner and tonight I expect him to get back in running, however it should work in his favour. There are at least four potential leaders in this event and they are all suspect over the trip. If Mepunga Ledger can find the rails early he should get every chance to run over the top of some tiring chasers.
Frank Furter looks well drawn in the red alley and he should have sufficient speed to hold them out. He hasn't had much luck in recent runs but if he can find the lure tonight he should be able to regain some confidence. His last 40 metres is always suspect but if there is some shuffling behind he may get away with the prize.
Hexen Bale continues to get better with every run and if given a clear run he would be right in the mix. My only concern tonight is that there is a fair bit of speed drawn underneath and he may be posted wide throughout.
Top Four: 5 – 1 – 7 – 8
Suggested Bets:
Win bet on Mepunga Ledger
Quinella: 5 to rove with 1,7,8
Race 3 – 715M Grade 5 – 7:44PM
Heaps Of Ability really caught the eye when placed at Bendigo last time over the 660 and he steps back up to a more suitable journey. If you go back through his form, he managed to score an all the way Meadows win over 600 metres, so he can show early speed at times. He should be around the $9.00 mark tonight and is worth an each way ticket.
Bekim Hatrick continually found trouble here last week but he managed to settle himself and charge to the line before narrowly going down in 42.16. His poor box manners have cost him of late but he has improved his ability to work through a field. If he gains an ounce of luck I think he will put some pressure on his kennelmate Heaps of Ability.
Infinite Wish has the class edge but she tends to always have an excuse for getting rolled. I expect her to find bother again and storm home into a placing. Kennelmate Thoughtful Wish appears well drawn and her racing pattern suggests that this trip will suit.
Top Four: 7 – 5 – 4 – 8
Suggested Bets: Win Bets on Heaps Of Ability and Bekim Hatrick
Race 4 – 595M Grade 5 – 8:08PM
Money muncher Mepunga Hayley appears to have sucked me in again. Tonight she steps up to the 600 metre journey and I'm going to give her one more chance. Six starts ago she powered to the line when scoring at The Meadows in 30.01 and since then she has continually found bother. Over the longer journey tonight she should be able to settle closer to the speed and regain some confidence. I think she may go around at the $8.00 or better mark, so hopefully she can repay our faith tonight.
Mepunga Tiara has drawn perfectly again in the red alley and if she can reproduce her 34.26 PB here she should be able to test her kennelmate. My biggest concern with her is that she can bomb the start at times and she may get shuffled a long way back initially.
Billy Higgs was impressive with an all the way Meadows win last Saturday over 600 and if he leads again he should be in the mix. Know Class comes here with strong NZ form, watch betting moves with him.
Top Four: 4 – 1 – 2 – 3
Suggested Bet: Each Way bet on Mepunga Hayley
Race 5 – 515M Grade 5 Final – 8:28PM
The two most impressive heat winners from last week were Go Mobo and Johnny Black Fox. Tonight I think the edge goes to Go Mobo. He went a shade faster than Johnny and he seems to be more reliable at box rise. In his past 500 metre runs he seemed to be a little weak in the final stages but last week he appeared to be at peak fitness and he hit the line quite solidly, he should lead all the way again.
Johnny Black Fox made it 10 from 10 in his metro debut last week and he if he can step on terms he can keep his unbeaten record intact. There is no doubting that he has plenty on these ability wise, I'm just a tad worried that he may get posted wide for most of the trip.
You Say Goodbye has the perfect draw and he was also an impressive heat winner. I don't think he has sufficient pace to hold out Go Mobo but he should settle fairly close and be able to run a big race.
Top Four: 3 – 1 – 7 – 2
Suggested Bet: Win bet on Go Mobo (should get around $3.20)
Race 6 – 715M Special Event – 8:52PM
Exciting staying prospect Rocky Bale is facing an enormous drop in class tonight. Last start he powered to the line when runner up behind Sweet It Is in the Group One Association Cup final. This event clearly doesn't have the same depth and he should make light work of these.
Sisco Rage has been sharpened up with a couple of 500 metre Bendigo runs of late and that should allow him to show a lot more early speed tonight. I'm expecting him to lead for a long way and he has broken 42 seconds here previously, however the last 50 may be a bit of a concern as he may be a run short.
Hala Belle will be settling on the speed and she is capable of causing an upset, whilst the grand old campaigner Destini Fireball can never be discounted, but he meets a few smart ones tonight so place claims may be best for him.
Top Four: 8 – 4 – 6 – 7
Suggested Bet: Trifecta 8/4,6,7/2,3,4,6,7 ($12 for $1)
Race 7 – 595M Special Event – 9:11PM
Although Campaspe Will was run down in his previous 595 metre try, I think tonight's box draw favours him. With fast beginner Easton Bale drawn directly underneath, he should be able to drive to the early lead and I expect there to be lots of shuffling behind him and it's hard to reel in a chaser running 34 seconds flat on the lure.
Allen Deed continues to do everything right and he will be aiming for his fourth win on the trot. Box three won't do him any favours and the first 50 is crucial. If he can step on terms and get through the first bend untouched, he can give Campaspe Will a run for his money.
Allen Eryk is another in form chaser who only needs to get through the first bend unscathed and he will be in the mix.
Top Four: 8 – 3 – 1 – 5
Suggested Bet: Win bet on Campaspe Will
Race 8 – 515M Free For All – 9:35PM
Great Spartacus would be better suited to a wider draw but tonight he's in a race which doesn't have a whole lot of early speed. He has been showing good early speed in his recent racing and I would expect him to be able to boot up and hold the lead. On the lure he is an extremely fast chaser and I don't think there is anything in this race that keen reel him in.
Shadow Lane does his best racing at this venue and he has had little luck since his brilliant 29.55 win here in March. Tonight he has a slow beginner drawn outside and this should allow him to gain a clear passage early. He should be good value tonight and be worth a saver bet.
Buckle Up Mason has returned to his best of late but tonight from the middle pin he will need everything to go his way. He will be under the odds tonight and definitely worth risking.
Top Four: 1 – 7 – 6 – 5
Suggested Bet: Win bets on Great Spartacus and Shadow Lane (more on Great Spartacus)
Race 9 – 595M Grade 5 – 9:55PM
The well drawn Tick Bale was desperately unlucky at The Meadows last Saturday night, after getting posted wide he went to take the lead off the back straight before getting squeezed out, I have no doubts that he should have won the race. Tonight he should be able to settle just behind Prue Bale and reel in her in late.
Prue Bale has relished the step up in distance at her past two runs and tonight it appears that she should lead them up again. In her past two she has managed to set up big early leads and hang on late, I don't think she will get too far in front of Tick Bale early and that is why I think she may get nabbed late.
Proven Trendy makes his middle distance debut and he may be suited by the extra journey. Nockabout Aussie has ridiculous talent but he can find a lot of trouble in his races.
Top Four: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Suggested Bets:
Win bet on Tick Bale
Quinella, 1 to rove with 3,5,7
Race 10 – 515M Mixed 4/5 – 10:12PM
Dyna Geldof has been racing with great flare at Wentworth Park recently and tonight he enters a race in which there is not a lot of early pace. Normally a reliable beginner, tonight he should be able to pounce on the early lead and prove far too zippy for his rivals. Anything over $4.00 is great value.
Clone Your Own is perfectly drawn out wide and he should be able to regain some confidence. He is likely to miss the start but he does have an outstanding turn of foot. If he can get close to his PB of 29.41 he should be a major player.
Amadeus Strikes returned to form with a 30.10 Meadows win from this draw and if she can step on terms she should find herself in a prominent position as they head for the back straight. Smart Maxwell is the smokey, loads of talent but does do a lot wrong in his races.
Top Four: 5 – 8 – 1 – 4
Suggested Bets: Load up on Dyna Geldof to win, quinella with Clone Your Own.
Race 11 – 515M Grade 5 – 10:32PM
Giddy's Star has been racing without luck and tonight she returns to her favourite track. With two keen railers drawn underneath, she should get a nice cart across early and then find herself in front as they head through the first turn. She has a slick 29.48PB here and a repeat of that will see her get away with the prize.
Sky Fighter can ping the lids at times and he can run time on the lure. He should be able to cross the runners drawn under him and find himself in contention early. I think Giddy's Star will have his measure but if there is trouble behind he may hold on.
My Bro Fabio is the most talented in the field but slow beginnings have caused him grief in recent times. I am expecting there to be a fair bit of trouble at the first bend and he may get spat out the back. Anchor for second and third in your exotics.
Top Four: 8 – 7 – 2 – 5
Suggested Bets: Win bets on Giddy's Star and Sky Fighter.
Race 12 – 515M Grade 5 – 10:52PM
The strong Owen Bale finally gets a chance to return to the winners list. The two chasers drawn underneath should be matching motors into the first turn and this should allow him to get the perfect sit. The two pacesetters are both suspect at the trip and I think Owen Bale should run over the top in the home straight.
White Spyro has the aid of the red draw and I expect her to be able to hold out He Went Off initially. She is making her Sandown Park debut and this is a much tougher 500 than The Meadows. For her to hold on she will need some trouble behind her.
Lou Todd is another strong chaser who should be hitting the line hard if he can avoid early bother.
Top Four: 3 – 5 – 1 – 4
Suggested Bets: Win bets on Owen Bale and Lou Todd (have more on Owen Bale)
Quaddies
3,7/8/1,3,8/1,5,6,7 ($24 for $1)
3,7/8/1,2,3,5,8/1,5,6,7 ($40 for $1)