3 minute read

All eyes are on the skies ahead of racing at Sandown this weekend with heavy rain the talking point going into the meeting.

If some early weather reports prove accurate the meeting could well be under threat but for now we press on with unknown ground and a wide range of possibilities.

We will start in a really competitive second race on the card. It's not only a good race but being the second it has a better chance than most of being run if rain on the day washes us away - so let's play.

Five last start winners are set to face the starter in the second and all of them have good upside. In our opinion none more so than Echo Jet who followed up a good maiden win at Newcastle with a strong performance on the Lakeside at Sandown last time out.

The race rated well for the grade and he came out of the race looking like he had plenty more to offer. Holy Freeze had to concede him first run from the back there and was very strong late, so he is again a threat, and there is plenty to this race, but at early odds around $5.50 Echo Jet looks a bet.

Later on the card Echo Jet's stablemate Sprightly Lass is set to go around a well-fancied favourite after winning impressively at the Valley last time.

It was a nice win but the form looks no better than the Rosehill third of Gwenneth who ran really well in Sydney and could improve again without surprising. That will make her hard to beat.

Miss Wonderland could well be (on Timeform ratings is almost certainly) the best horse in the race but off a long break she looks tight enough in the betting against a solid option in Gwenneth and we are happy to lean that way.

THE MELBOURNE MAIL

Bet Of The Day: Race 2 #1 Echo Jet @ $5.50

Each Way Play: Race 6 #9 Gwenneth @ $7.50