Australian Hurdle and Steeplechase betting guide with free tips
Jumps racing in Victoria is still alive, healthy and ready to star at Sandown this Saturday with the $125,000 Australian Hurdle and $125,000 Australian Steeplechase.
The Hurdle hasn’t attracted a very big field, only six runners, but the Steeplechase has a good-sized field and it should be one of the best races on the Sandown card.
Betting on jumps racing is extremely exciting which is why we continue to push for its stability in the Australian racing scene. Whilst it may be more popular in the United Kingdom, Australian jumps racing is about to hit top gear and this Saturday’s action is a nice entree to what’s coming this winter.
The first race on the card is the Australian Hurdle which starts at 11.45am on Saturday morning. Gingerboy is the firm favourite, but any of the six runners could take it out.
Australian Hurdle market and tips
1. Arch Fire – $3.60
2. King Of Dudes – $34
3. Gingerboy – $1.50
4. Earthbound – $17
5. Hornets’ Nest – $21
6. I’ll’ava’alf – $7.50
Most of the money has come for Gingerboy which has won its last two hurdle races by massive margins. The Darren Weir-trained gelding won by six lengths over race-rival Arch Fire on this track and it followed that up with another four-length thrashing.
The six-year-old finished fourth behind Raw Impulse on the flat last start which makes it a dual threat and the $1.50 is short, but it looks warranted.
Arch Fire is looking to turn the tables on Gingerboy after being safely held at its last two meetings. The eight-year-old gets well back in the field before running home stylishly, so the small field of only six runners should have it settling closer to the pace.
The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding has won two from three over this distance which bodes well and although the $3.60 for the win is on the short side, the $1.40 to finish in the top two looks the better bet.
Former New Zealand jumper I’ll’ava’alf hasn’t won since September, 2015, but it has been supported at a single-figure price. Now with Patrick Ryan Jnr, the seven-year-old has had two starts in Australia and its best effort came on the flat when second behind the well-regarded Glorious Sinndar.
$7.50 is a handy each-way price and it could challenge the two favourites.
Australian Hurdle tip: Gingerboy ($1.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Australian Steeplechase odds and tips
1. Wells – $5.50
2. Urban Explorer – $13
3. Stand To Gain – $41
4. King Triton – $7.50
5. Zataglio – $6.50
6. Angelology – $3.30
7. About The Journey – $11
8. Spying On You – $17
9. Auld Burns – $15
10. Hucknall – $6.00
11. Marlo Man – $31
12. Yolanda Be Cool – $41
Top weight Wells has been well supported into $5.50 and punters are clearly remembering its Grand National Steeplechase win in 2014. That came only five starts ago after it had almost two years off the track, so its recent form has been good considering that layoff and you can’t rule it out of contention.
Former Kiwi runner Angelology is the $3.30 favourite having run well last start behind Hucknall. The seven-year-old has won 15 races which included a hurdle win two starts back by 15 lengths and although most of its form has come over the hurdles, it showed good ability over the bigger fences last start.
The weight relief is big and it will carry only 64kg in this after lumping around 73 last start. The $3.30 should stay steady throughout the week and it looks a solid win chance.
Hucknall comes into calculations after an easy steeplechase win at Ballarat last start. It has won only five from 28 starts overall and its three starts at Sandown have yet to yield a win or a placing, but it’s from a top stable and it can never be ruled out.
Another runner that should be included in your bets is last start winner Spying On You at $17 and $4.60 for the place. The Grant Young-trained gelding was an impressive 4.6-length winner at Mount Gambier last start and although this is much tougher, it shouldn’t be paying those odds. At its best, it can surprise a field like this so include in place bets.
Australian Steeplechase tip: Angelology to win ($3.30) at Crownbet.com.au