3 minute read

Racing And Sports form analyst Trent Crebbin provides his race-by-race Sandown preview, thanks to tab.com.au.

Racing in Melbourne heads to the Winter workhorse with Sandown Hillside playing host to a nine race card. Once again, we've got no feature races per se but there are certainly a few smart types that look very capable of measuring up in the early part of the Spring.

One of those is a McEvoy filly in Race 4 who rates nicely second-up and will be our best bet of the day, while a consistent type with excellent midweek form in Race 3 looks a strong each-way hope.

It's all thanks to tab.com.au so check out the full race previews for Sandown on Saturday with tips and suggested bets in every race below.

Race 1 - 11:50am: Sportsbet Set A Deposit Limit Handicap (1000m)

Tricky race for the juveniles. Not one of them would surprise. Cora Lynn (5) hit the line well in a small field here on debut and will be better for it. They didn't go quickly there and she was taking some ground off the winner late. Can turn the tables. Husk (4) was the winner of that race, getting things in her favour on speed and sprinting quickly to score. May just end up getting similar favours once more. Clean Reef (7) is a filly by Lope De Vega on debut who has trialled very nicely in preparation. In good hands and must be respected. Supercilious (6) resumes having run well at big odds in a strong race on debut. Can measure up. Interest Point (1) is unbeaten and impossible to knock.

Tip: Leaning to Cora Lynn at $4.60 with tab.com.au

Race 2 - 12:25pm ive > Handicap (1400m)

La Fracas (7) rises quickly in grade but looks capable of doing so. He debuted over 1200m at Pakenham and won well with the second horse having won since. Straight to an open race but there aren't any stars here and he can measure up. Enna's Dream (6) has run third in both runs back from a spell and should be set to peak now. Does draw to get a long way back again but if the pace is on she'll be hard to hold out. Mislead (3) wasn't beaten far in a similar race first up at Caulfield when fourth without the best of luck. Fitter for the rise to 1400m and looks a key chance. Gallant Prince (4) was just fair at Flemington but had been good prior and is in the mix. Ten Deep (10) won a Seymour maiden by 6 lengths last start and could measure up.

Tip: Backing La Fracas at $5.00 with tab.com.au

Race 3 - 1:00pm: Vale Fr Brendan Dillon (1400m)

Tipping Truffle Finder (15) can make the jump in grade here. He's placed in three in a row before breaking through for a handy win over a good horse at Cranbourne last time out. Prior to that he was third in a very midweek race here. Drawn wide but with even luck he should go close. Riverplate (2) is having his first run for the new stable. His best, which we didn't see last time in, would go a long way to winning this. Name Dropper (16) resumes having won his only start to date at Eagle Farm. Level of improvement the key but he can measure up. Russian Meteor (11) resumes. He's a nice type who was a neck away in second at Caulfield before a spell. 

Tip: Backing Truffle Finder at $6.50 with tab.com.au

Race 4 - 1:35pm: Evergreen Turf Handicap (1300m)

Batrana (5) is a talented filly who caught the eye with a big finish first-up over 1200m at Caulfield to grab third. She looks ideally suited by the rise in trip and kinder draw this time around and rates very highly against these. Donegal (3) was good first-up at Sandown-Lakeside over 1200m when third, beaten two lengths. She's always promised a bit and the rise in trip certainly suits. Paradise City (1) was much better last start at big odds at Caulfield when narrowly ahead of Batrana. Whether she can go on with it remains to be seen. Flying Fizz (2) is in the mix on best form. 

Tip: Keen on Batrana at $3.80 with tab.com.au

Race 5 - 2:10pm: Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1600m)

Great Taste (10) has found one better at all three runs this time in but looks to have found the right race here, back slightly in grade from another good effort last time out at this track and trip. Only needs to hold that form to be breaking through. Blue Moon (5) has been building nicely in two runs back this campaign and wasn't far off Great Taste here last time out. Drawn well and should prove hard to hold out. Precious Charm (3) has won 50% of her starts, adding another one two back at Warrnambool before a solid fifth in the same lead up here last time. Should give a sight. Arqana (14) is a consistent type who should have no issue with the rise to 1600m. Strong each-way hope again. 

Tip: Great Taste each-way at $7.50 & $2.80 at tab.com.au

Race 6 - 2:45pm: Quayclean Handicap (1600m)

Hard To Cross (1) looks a key chance again here having won his past two, both at this track and distance. He's up sharply in the weights from last time but did win a stronger race well and looks a big price considering. Falcon Of Malta (5) tried hard in the Vobis Gold Mile two back at Caulfield and went on with it to win narrowly at Bendigo with 62.5kg last start. Sure to give a sight once again. He's Beset (15) is a handy type who won first up before just finding one better last start. Suited up in trip again on the bigger track. Crackerjack Prince (7) has been solid in two runs back and should be ready to peak up in trip. Big watch on Concorde (9) who makes his Australian debut for the McEvoys. He boasts a very good record over this trip.

Tip: Hard To Cross on top at $5.50 at tab.com.au
 

Race 7 - 3:25pm: LockettLED.au Handicap (1000m)

Etienne (12) resumes. He's a talented type who won his first three in a row last time in, hard in the market at all of them. He then tackled a strong Bm78 at Moe when measuring up well for third, beaten a length. Open to further improvement and will prove hard to catch again. Scissor Step (1) has won 2/3 this time in, both over this trip. Gets a handy 3kg claim once more and with even luck from the draw he can win again. Mrs Chrissie (13) is a consistent type who just found Wondereach better on the day last time. The win prior reads well. Home Rule (6) is going well and not unsuited back to 1000m. Wondereach (18) knocked off Mrs Chrissie last time and must be considered.

Tip: Etienne to win at $5.00 with tab.com.au
 

Race 8 - 4:05pm: Tile Importer Handicap (1400m)

Nicolini Vito (4) looks the horse to beat having beaten a few key rivals over this track and trip last start. The inside draw looks the main knock but if he gets luck he'll be hard to beat again. Windstorm (8) resumed for the new stable in the same race and hit the line well for second. Meets him 1.5kg better and if he can recapture his best he'd go very close. So Risque (13) continues to race very well although was a touch disappointing as favourite behind Nicolini Vito last time. Should take beating again. Is It Me (16) steps up to 1400m which should suit now. In the mix. Showmanship (2) worked home well first up and the rise to 1400m suits. Keep safe.

Tip: Backing Nicolini Vito at $4.00, Windstorm at $5.50 and Showmanship at $10 with tab.com.au

Open race. Jimmy The Bear (4) has been right up to the mark in three runs back and the rise to 1800m won't pose an issue. They may look to be more positive this time after getting back in a slowly run race last time. Dashing (7) has now won two of his past three, proving narrowly too good at Caulfield over a mile last start. He's a winner over this distance and draws for every chance. Pudding (8) got the favours on speed in a slowly run race here last time out and won accordingly. More depth here but can measure up again. Pounding (3) can mix his form but was good behind Dashing last time and his best would go close. Cadmus (16) looks a solid lightweight chance.

Tip: Leaning to Jimmy The Bear at $5.50 with tab.com.au

SANDOWN HILLSIDE BEST BETS

Bet of the day: Race 4 #5 BATRANA at $3.80 with tab.com.au*

Each-way play: Race 3 #15 TRUFFLE FINDER at $6.50 & 2.50 with tab.com.au

*All odds correct at 12:30pm, 13/6/24