Best Bets
Consistent stayer High Dude is in typically competitive form and finds himself in a very winnable race at Hawkesbury this afternoon. The son of High Chaparral blew out the cobwebs over a mile first-up and has since beaten a decent field to the line over 2100m at Wyong and finished a close second when pipped on the line at Gosford, again over 2100m. The slight step back in trip looks ideal and Jason Collett should find no difficulty in steering the horse to the lead from barrier 4.
Tactical Formation resumed for a credible third over 1200m at Kembla Grange first-up and with natural improvement, will be extremely difficult to beat this afternoon. The Mossman gelding was taken to the pace first-up and was entitled to weaken at the line, and in-form hoop Tim Clark will look to take a position just behind the pace today, before calling on the horse’s turn of foot in the straight.
Dancing Hare will carry winning form into Race 6 at Echuca this afternoon and should prove extremely difficult to beat in the small field. The Fastnet Rock mare took a couple of starts to warm into her preparation this time in, but hit the line well to win over a mile at Bairnsdale last time out and faces a similar quality of field here. She’s drawn ideally in barrier 3 and could receive the run of the race.
Best Each-Way Bet
Yulong February is yet to post a race win, but he has shown great ability and faces his best chance of breaking his maiden at Pakenham this evening. The Kuroshio colt was strong to the line wen second on debut at Warrnambool, but faced far tougher company at Caulfield a fortnight ago and weakened late. He’s rock-hard fit ahead of his third-up assignment and should be right in the finish of this race.