Easter Monday form, odds and tips at Canterbury, April 17
EASTER Monday is one of the more festive betting days on the Australian calendar and Canterbury hosts an eight-race card for punters to dip into.
There are no major races on the card, but the fields have come up well and punters will love betting into the even fields on display.
We’re hoping to find some chocolate coins of our own this Monday in the form of winners and we’ll get the best Easter odds with CrownBet.com.au.
Race 1 – Tab Plate 3YO (1200m)
Cordero wasn’t far behind them on debut at Canterbury and having another start on this track will suit. The Hawkes-trained gelding ran fifth behind Piping Hot and it has been nicely backed here at odds of $4. It would pay to follow any betting support for this runner.
El Venetian has firmed in from $3 to $2.80 having taken on some talented types to date. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding ran third behind Cohesion in the Blue Diamond Preview before running a disappointing ninth in the Prelude behind Flying Artie. It has had its chance since, but it will enjoy the drop in weight.
Pelorus Jack hasn’t been too far away in two starts to date and it could resume with a tidy effort. The Les Bridge-trained gelding ran on nicely behind Calanda last time out and a win here wouldn’t surprise many punters. $6 is a fair price.
Race 1 tip: El Venetian to win ($2.80) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Theraces 2YO Handicap (1100m)
Envy Of All has been specked from $7 into $6.50 after showing good talent in a recent trial at Randwick. The James Cummings stable is firing with its youngsters and it should improve with more racing under its belt. Tricky draw to work with, but it should continue to be well backed.
Pymble had support on debut at $6, but it wasn’t able to keep up a strong pace in front. The Gerald Ryan-trained colt looked the goods when winning a recent trial at Rosehill and it won’t have to spend a penny from the inside barrier. Expect Jason Collett to be positive out of the gates again. $4 chance after opening at $4.50.
Darhad will have to do it tough from out wide, but it hasn’t been far away from some nice types. The two-year-old ran second behind Madame Moustache on debut and then third in the Pierro Stakes second up. The son of All Too Hard will break maiden status soon and the odds are appealing.
Race 2 tip: Pymble to win ($4) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 3 – Tab Rewards 3YO Plate (1200m)
Les Bridge lines up Slow Burn which has worked well at the trials and it has gathered support in the market. The three-year-old filly by Duporth has remained rock steady at $5 in the betting and it could capitalise in a field that has little exposed form.
Loveletter is a nicely-bred type which finished second in a good form race on debut. The John Thompson-trained filly ran second behind Improvement which has subsequently strung multiple wins together. It has been prepared with two trials and punters are confident it will run a good race at $3.50.
Noire was scratched twice last week in the efforts to avoid a wet track. The three-year-old handled the slow going well on debut when second at Beaumont and it looks to have a fair amount of ability. The drying track will help its chances so keep an eye on betting.
Race 3 tip: Slow Burn to win ($5) at Bet365.com
Race 4 – Pluck @ Vinery Handicap (1100m)
In Times Of War scored an impressive victory last start at Warwick Farm over a subsequent winner. The Waller-trained filly had finished second behind Spright in its start prior and that form is good enough to hold up at stakes level. Hugh Bowman takes the ride here and punters are getting a value price of $3.70 after opening at $3.80.
Nonpariel has been an expensive horse for punters at times, but it did the job well last start. The John O’Shea-trained filly scored a two length win on the heavy track at Kembla Grange and its form prior came behind some nice types. This is its best level of racing and it only needs to cope with the big weight.
Miss Debutante has been backed into $4 after opening at $4.80. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained filly didn’t fire last start, but its form prior included back-to-back wins and in good style. Whether it can carry this weight against a quality field is the big question, but it’s talented.
Race 4 tip: In Times Of War to win ($3.70) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Tabcorp Handicap (1550m)
Octavian Augustus finally scored for punters last start and a repeat could be on the cards. The three-year-old scored a narrow win over Denzil at Newcastle and another run on a similar track should be suitable. It drops right down in weight to 54.5kg and it should be tough to hold out.
Reinforced has drifted from $3.20 to $4, but remains one of the top betting chances. The Snowden-trained colt has finished second at its last two starts and it has the ability to go one better. It’s another James Harron-owned runner which should figure in the finish.
Appoint Percy has been disappoint Percy this campaign, but there is talent there. The five-year-old finished only 10th in the Provincial Championships Qualifier at Newcastle, but it did place in its only run on this track and it excels at this distance.
Race 5 tip: Octavian Augustus to win ($4.80) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – Ranvet Handicap (1900m)
Up And Rolling is a former Kiwi which wasn’t far behind them at Newcastle last start. Now with Chris Waller, the son of Castledale scored by 2.8 lengths to break maiden status at Matamata in January and it will enjoy racing over this distance. Consider at $4.80 after opening at $5.
Interlocuter is an import which should have won at its Australian debut. The O’Shea-trained four-year-old got too far back and only got a run at them late. It still managed to finish second and the French form stacks up nicely. It’s expected to compete at higher levels than this and the $3.40 won’t last long.
Hirokin isn’t the worst chance at $31. The Jarrod Austin-trained gelding wasn’t far behind them at Orange last start and despite facing a harder field here, it could add some value to multiples.
Race 6 tip: Interlocuter to win ($3.40) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 7 – Bowermans Office Furniture Handicap (1100m)
Queen Of Kariba has taken on some nice types during its 25-start career and it finished off its race at Randwick nicely last start. The five-year-old mare has won twice from three starts on this track and it handles rain-affected ground with ease. It has been nicely-supported in the betting at $5.50.
Calanda produced the goods last campaign when winning two from three starts. The well-bred son of Snitzel scored a 1.5-length win over Pelorus Jack to break maiden grades and it was too good for them last start at Randwick. It was hitting the line well in a trial and getting Hugh Bowman in the saddle is just another positive. $2.50 with bookmakers suggests it’s a serious winning hope.
Elemenohpee runs well fresh up and it could return a winner after finishing last to end its 2016 year. The Hawkes-trained gelding has recorded two wins on a slow track and it goes best at this distance. Tommy Berry takes the ride and there has been some early support in the betting at $5.
Race 7 tip: Calanda to win ($2.50) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Schweppes Handicap (1250m)
Bratislava is a talented last start winner which hasn’t been far away in all four career starts. The O’Shea-trained gelding scored a half-length win last time out and it only needs to cope with the wide draw to figure. It opened at $6 and has been backed into $5.50.
Roguish has been supported throughout the week after opening at $8.50. The Tim Martin-trained runner is now into $7 following its last start win and despite being an inconsistent type, it has enough ability to win at this level. Having Bowman in the saddle is a bonus.
Dixie Chick has been out of the winners circle for awhile now, but it has obvious talent and shouldn’t be discounted here. The David Pfieffer-trained mare finished fourth last time out and punters should expect improvement. Each way chance at $5.
Race 8 tip: Roguish to win ($7) at Bet365.com