Sandown
Race 2 – Riding High
Jockey – Will McCarthy
3900m – Australian Steeplechase
Champion chaser Riding High takes on a talented field in a cracking edition of the Australian Steeplechase at Sandown this afternoon. The Raise The Flag gelding meets many of his rivals from the Brierly at Warrnambool earlier in the month, where he finished fourth in his first go over the jumps for twelve months. The track is currently in the soft range, the Dwyer jumper not wanting any more rain before his event early on the card. Riding High’s effort in the Brierly was sound, running on strongly after jumping the last obstacle a long way off the leading trio. They were Britannicus, Flying Agent and Valac, all of whom contest this event today. Flying Agent gets a 2kg swing in the weights today after a brave runner-up performance behind Britannicus. It will be no surprise to see these two fill the quinella again here, siding with the former today. Valac has claims but the extra distance might find him out late. Tolemac is the wildcard after winning his steeple debut by a big space. He takes on seasoned performers here though. Riding High is a beautiful jumper and is proven at the trip. He has a bit of ground to make up on a couple of rivals here but you know he’ll go as well as he possibly can. You’d be brave to rule him out.
Currently, Riding High is an $11 chance in the market.
Race 7 Brung King
Jockey – Jye McNeil
1400m – Barrier 11
Promising galloper Brung King runs into a competitive benchmark-64 event at Sandown this afternoon. The three-year-old son of Crackerjack King is yet to put in a bad one in five career starts, making light work of a maiden field at Ararat two starts back before ploughing through a heavy Warrnambool surface to finish runner-up last start. Jye McNeil leaves from gate 11 today, forcing him to take a sit in the second half of the field in the early parts. Speed is drawn in the middle with Clinqstar and Athletica to press forward from the jump. Valenki won’t be far off them while Bons Your Back should land the plum spot behind the leaders. This is an open race, the market quoting six runners in single figures without an outright favourite being installed. Clinqstar and Valenki are both straight out of maiden grade after dominant wins from the front and they draw alongside each other here. The form from Clinqstar’s win was franked at Warracknabeal yesterday and the apprentice claim has in very well at the weights. This pair are too far apart in the market for mine and are both strong each way chances. Punch Lane is another coming off a maiden win, comfortably beating Valenki over a month ago and has since won a jumpout in preparation for today. He’s drawn for a soft run and shapes as the hardest to beat. Sir Bailey will be improved second-up and is another who will do no work in the run. He’ll need luck in the back end of the race but can’t discount him as a winning hope. Tasmanian visitor Alvarinho is racing well but it’s hard to line up her form. You’d assume she wouldn’t be here if she couldn’t gallop. Brung King will be ridden in similar fashion to that which saw him sweep aside his maiden win a month ago. The track is in the soft range and with the rail true, could lend itself to runners down the outside in the second half of the program. These are all ticks for the Henry Dwyer galloper who is in with a genuine winning chance in a wide open affair. He comfortably beat home Sir Bailey last start and has the advantage racing in this grade previously. Will be very hard to hold out in the last 100-metres of the race.
Currently, Brung King is a $6.50 chance in the market.