Head-to-head betting tips: Tom Melbourne vs. Comin’ Through
ONE of the more anticipated races of the day at Randwick on Saturday is the Bill Ritchie Handicap.
There are two horses in particular that bookmakers have taken plenty of action on and we’ve decided to match them up and see which thoroughbred will come out on top.
It’s Tom Melbourne vs. Comin’ Through which pits two Chris Waller-trained runners against each other and it promises to be an exciting and tightly-contested race.
If your selection runs second or third in the Bill Ritchie Handicap on Saturday don’t stress, CrownBet has a bonus bet (up to $50) in store for you.
Bill Ritchie Handicap betting market
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Tom Melbourne form
Tom Melbourne is a seven-year-old gelding which needed a change of scenery this campaign after disappointing punters throughout most of the 2016/2017 season.
The Chris Waller-trained import struggled earlier this year when running ninth in the Peter Young Stakes, 10th in the Australian Cup and then only fifth in a moderate handicap at Flemington.
That prompted Waller to change tact and come to Sydney for some better luck. Whilst the luck hasn’t gone its way in two starts, the form has come back and Tom Melbourne is starting to get back to its old self.
The son of Dylan Thomas ran an unlucky second in the Spring Preview behind Kingsguard. It ran into trouble around the turn and only got clear air late, but it was too late as the race had already been stolen.
Punters were getting good odds of $6 in the Tramway Stakes last start, but despite sitting three wide in the open it fought on well for second behind Happy Clapper and with some better luck it could have won.
With only eight runners in this field, bad luck should be out of the equation and it has drawn perfectly in barrier four with a good weight of 57kg on its back.
Punters are currently siding with Comin’ Through as the favourite, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see late support for “Tom Sydney”.
Comin’ Through form
Comin’ Through has won three of its eight starts and placed in three. It is coming off a stellar win at Randwick and its form prior to that was at a high level.
The four-year-old has always been highly-touted by form analysts and that was proven last start when beating the likes of Life Less Ordinary over 1400m. It was able to set its own terms out in front for Michael Walker, who rides most of owner Owen Glenn’s horses, and he dictated the play.
It carried 60.5kg to victory on that occasion and it drops to 53kg for this, which is a significant drop in weight and it hasn’t come close to carrying that weight this year.
The well-bred son of Fastnet Rock has yet to win second-up with two starts for two placings, but it loves Randwick and it has never finished out of the money in four starts at this distance.
It’s only getting 4kg better than Tom Melbourne which shouldn’t make too much of a difference at this distance, but it has been the best-backed runner of the field and there are many more wins in store for it this spring.
Tom Melbourne vs. Comin’ Through betting tip
We’re prepared to give Tom Melbourne another chance to prove itself because it hasn’t had much luck this campaign.
He has performed well enough to win twice already and you don’t get many more opportunities to run well without winning, but this looks like a winnable race for the lovable stayer turned sprinter and we can’t pass up the odds on offer.
Take Tom Melbourne at $2.90 with CrownBet.com.au as we’re predicting to see that price come tumbling in the hours leading up to the race.