Cranbourne Cup betting tips, form and odds, Sunday October 15
THE $300,000 Cranbourne Cup runs this Sunday and what better what to use your bonus bets from a busy Saturday on the punt?
The Cranbourne Cup features a maximum field of stayers all vying to increase their chances of sneaking into the Melbourne Cup in three weeks time.
The field features some talented imports such as Folkswood and Assign, but the locals look to have a chance at winning with Cool Chap, Nozomi and Spanish Reef.
It’s a huge 10-race card for punters so sign up to Neds.com.au now for $500 in bonus bets which can be used on any Australian thoroughbred meeting.
Race 1 – BM64 Handicap (1300m)
Pique was a narrow last start winner at Mildura, but it looks to have enough ability to progress through the grades. The Darren Weir-trained colt was well-supported at $1.75 which is a good sign going forward and the extra distance looks ideal.
Saucy Jack won a handy form race on debut and it looms as a nice chance here. The John McArdle-trained three-year-old scored by 2.25 lengths over Maheera at Ararat and punters should expect another quality effort. That win came over this exact distance so that helps.
Race 1 tip: Saucy Jack to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Maiden Plate (1400m)
Blinky O’Reilly might not be as good as expected, but there is some ability there and Damien Oliver is in the saddle. The three-year-old has run all three career races at Bendigo and Cranbourne should be a track that suits. Its placing two starts back was solid and it should be paying nice each way odds.
River Reward was well-backed on debut at $5.50 and it ran accordingly. The locally-trained five-year-old has been patiently handled and its run on debut for third was good considering it was slow away. Gets a tricky draw here, but consider.
Race 2 tip: River Reward to place at Bet365.com
Race 3 – Maiden Plate (1200m)
Mulligan Falls was steady on debut at Moe and the improved track should help its cause. The son of Hinchinbrook ran 5.25 lengths behind the winner as a $3.50 chance, but the heavy track wasn’t suitable and Cranbourne looks ideal. Getting Craig Williams in the saddle is a huge bonus and it should be well fancied again.
The Sword was only been fair in four starts to date, but there’s room for improvement and getting a senior jockey in the saddle might help. The Robbie Laing-trained colt will get better with time as its breeding suggests and it will likely stretch out over more distance being a Laing-trained runner. Each way hope.
Race 3 tip: Mulligan Falls to win at Neds.com.au
Race 4 – BM64 Handicap (1200m)
Saddle The Sun couldn’t have been more impressive on debut at Ballarat. The Lindsay Park-trained four-year-old scored by almost four lengths over a decent field and it has more wins in store this season. The son of Helmut gets in well here with the inside draw and Regan Bayliss could well dictate the play from there.
Rioli was a quality winner on debut and it only narrowly went down last start. The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding won by a half-length at Sale before going close up in grade at Morphettville. It drops in grade for this and it should be competitive.
Race 4 tip: Saddle The Sun to win at Unibet.com.au
Race 5 – BM70 Handicap (1600m)
Battlecamp has a big weight to carry with Craig Williams riding, but it also has the class edge. The Anthony Freedman-trained son of Shocking was a quality winner in February and despite not winning since, it did go well two back at Geelong. It drops in grade here and should be tough to beat.
Rokda Kasba is a former stakes race runner when finishing last in the Packer Plate in April. The Lindsay Park runner has won and placed since, not at that level, but it’s building up to it and it should cope well with this grade. Betting will indicate its chances so keep safe.
Race 5 tip: Battlecamp to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – BM70 Handicap (1400m)
Street Impact was a narrow winner on debut before getting nosed out of it at Mornington last start. The Smerdon-trained four-year-old will likely find this easier and it hasn’t done much wrong in two starts to date. It jumps from a tricky draw, but it should have plenty of gas from the barriers.
Mrs Gardenia defeated Street Impact last start and looms as a winning hope again. The Weir-trained runner has won three from eight starts to date and is progressing through the grades nicely. Its only poor runs have come at stakes level and getting the 1.5kg claimer in the saddle is a big help.
Race 6 tip: Mrs Gardenia to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – Apache Cat Classic (1000m)
Gun Case is the only runner in this field showing winning form, having won three of its last four starts. The 11-time winner is having its first start at Cranbourne, but after posting recent wins at Morphettville and Balaklava, that shouldn’t worry it. It has won nine times at the short course distance so respect.
Smart Dart has good fresh up form with two wins from five starts. The Cindy Alderson-trained gelding hasn’t raced since running third behind Burning Front, but it gets in well on the weights with 54.5kg and the inside draw to work with.
Race 7 tip: Gun Case to win at Neds.com.au
Race 8 – Cranbourne Cup (2025m)
Folkswood is from the Charlie Appleby yard and has been given the visitors draw. The five-year-old European finished fifth at Epsom last start which wasn’t overly impressive, but this isn’t the strongest field and it has placed in all three runs at this distance. Kerrin McEvoy rides and that’s a good sign.
Cool Chap was a game winner at Caulfield last start and now that the confidence is up it might continue to win. The Lindsay Park-trained stayer has won only four from 22 starts, but it runs well over this distance and it drops in weight for this. It should settle midfield and come with a nice run late.
Race 8 tip: Cool Chap to win ($7.50) at Neds.com.au
Race 9 – BM64 Handicap (2025m)
The Sledgehammer was well-backed last start at Geelong and it ran on well in the straight. The John Sadler-trained three-year-old will likely drop to the back from the wide draw and produce another strong finish. Williams has been booked and it could pay to follow any strong market moves.
Solas has won two of its last three and it can make the step up in class. The eight-year-old has been tried over the hurdles with no success, but it ran well on the flat last start and it should stay there. It could add some value to multiples.
Race 9 tip: The Sledgehammer to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 10 – BM78 Handicap (1400m)
Fox Hall was the beaten favourite last start, but it drops in grade for this and looks a nice bet. The Tony McEvoy-trained four-year-old has won three of its 10 starts with four placings and that consistency has been good for punters throughout its career. Stick with it here.
Night’s Watch is a former New Zealand runner which won two in a row before running down the track as a $1.55 favourite last start. It’s much better than that, but is a touch wayward on its day. Go on its previous form and that should be tough to beat.
Race 10 tip: Night’s Watch to win at Unibet.com.au