Harness Racing Tips: Expert Race Previews

Sunday trots action and we are off to Echuca today, it’s a tight 804-metre track which suits on-pacers providing tempo is not over the top, we will attempt to use the conditions to suit with our betting strategies below.

Echuca

Race 2 – 2.19pm

Race Map

Gate speed with Well Well, Wandanas Fivestarz, Our Triple Asset and Cheeki Philtra here so looks a good battle early. I expect Our Triple Asset to cross and lead and hold that position. I don’t expect a lot of mid-race moves as a lot of these a limited and not best suited to making two runs.

The crucial runner in the race is Panda Girl. It’s first up from NZ where it had a good record, my assessment of its form is that its a dead set sit sprinter so anticipate it has to be driven that way here.

Race Summary

Key to the race is Panda Girl. On its NZ replays it was clearly driven with a sit and had a powerful finishing burst. Since being transferred it has had several trials at Shepparton and sure has not set the world on fire, its last trial being its best one when driven cold like it was in NZ and hitting the line hard.

It did show to me is that is must be driven this way to produce its best and has a strong finishing burst. It is just this track will make it tricky and from the inside back row draw is going to need some favours at some point. It has to be a risk-taking into the account its first up, trials just fair, poor draw and on a track that suits those on pace.

I think the improver can be Our Triple Asset who I am mapping to lead so rate him a clear winning chance. Several other winning hopes in Well Well, Wandanas Fivestarz, Cheeky Philtra and Lord Commander, so enough dangers to make me keen to take on the pre-post fav here in Panda Girl.

Betting Strategy

LAY (WIN) — Panda Girl at up to $4.50

Race 6 – 4.27pm

Race Map

Very good gate speed here with Daddywho, Orbie, Hancocks Hero and Interest Me all having good early dash. Orbie is the tough one to get a handle on as can show really good speed on occasions then on others none at all, however, Hancocks Hero is consistently fast off the gate and is most likely to lead. It is not a hand up horse so at this track and distance will definitely be aiming for an all the way win.

Ona Safari from the inside draw tends to hang a bit early so don’t see him figuring in any early action but will get a cheap fence run. Larajay Macray is probably best when either in front or driven with one run so has a few things against it here.

Race Summary

Good contest with plenty of depth. however, in saying that I think that if Orbie or Hancocks Hero leads then either will be winning as both love to lead. As I can’t be entirely confident in my map here I would prefer to wait until in-play and see what has occurred in the first 400 meters of the race then bet accordingly.

I do think that Larajay Macray has a few things against it here so based on that its a risk and worth taking on if stays in the market as it is at present. Interest Me has the tricky wide draw and whilst Wotchawaitingfor is well-graded its a shocking draw and will need lots of luck to figure. So a pre-race lay and then in-play strategy seems the best way to attack this race.

Betting Strategy

LAY (WIN) — Larajay Macray at up to $6.00
In-play — if things go to plan and either Orbie or Hancocks Hero get an ok lead, back the one that leads.

Race 7 – 5.03pm

Race Map

Very confident that from the pole position Roslyn Gaye has the gate speed to lead and will want to hold it over the short distance on this track. It has led from barrier one the last five times it has had this draw. Damien Wilson is an aggressive driver and would be shocked if he took the sit.

Giant Jackson follows through from the second row and is equally as likely to be leaders back. Bit of depth to the contest so I would expect some mid-race action here, Roslyn Gaye can over race a touch as well so that being the case an even tempo is likely.

Race Summary

Good depth here, I am confident of my map and also think that Roslyn Gaye can run a much better race with the track and distance giving it a significant advantage. It presents an ideal opportunity to back to lay and green up very early in the contest. As mentioned, very good depth to the race with a host of chances.

Giant Jackson had trialed well before his last start win and gets a gun run here so definite winning chance. The other back row horses are well graded in Elegant Jewel and Azza and expect them to run big races too.

Bring The Flave is an interesting runner being first up from Tassie where it had very good figure form, I can’t have it on its trials here with this stable. Bona Khan and Our American Princess have poor draws and would need favours to figure as winners.

Betting Strategy

BACK to LAY (WIN) — Roslyn Gaye at odds of $4.50 plus – very confident it’s the early leader so green up early in the race when should get in shorter than pre-play.