Pakenham best bets & quaddie tips | Sunday, April 16
| What | Pakenham Races |
| Where | Pakenham Racing Club – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 |
| When | Sunday, April 16, 2023 |
| First Race | 12:20pm AEST |
The jumps season continues to heat up in Victoria as the Warrnambool May Carnival inches closer, and six races all over the obstacles at Pakenham on Sunday will only whet the appetite. There are showers forecast throughout Saturday and Sunday, so horses with fitness on their side will be a must on a track which will likely be in the Heavy range. The first of six races is set to go at 12:20pm AEST.
Best Bet at Pakenham: Epizeel
The Declan Maher-trained Epizeel has been nothing short of impressive to begin the jumps season. He got his maiden out of the way at Terang when leading throughout, before finding one better at Hamilton last time out. The six-year-old gelding has a racing pattern which is hard to knock for a jumper; he runs his races at a genuine clip and shows a clean pair of heels over the obstacles. He looks set to gain an uncontested lead throughout under Will McCarthy, and as long as he handles the conditions, we anticipate Epizeel will have too much of a lead at the last obstacle and prove too hard to gun down.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#6 Epizeel (7)
6yo Gelding | T: Declan Maher | J: Will McCarthy (66kg)
Next Best at Pakenham: Port Guillaume
A one-time Melbourne Cup contender, Port Guillaume is now making a career over the sticks. The Ben & JD Hayes-trained six-year-old has all the class in the world on the flat, and with four wins to his name on rain-affected going, we have no doubt he will handle what is in front of him come Sunday. With the race set to be run at a genuine clip throughout, it sets up perfectly for a backmarker to work his way into the event 600m out from home. As long as Port Guillaume handles the obstacles, we’re hoping his class shines through in the opening leg of the quaddie.
Next Best
Race 3 – 
#2 Port Guillaume (4)
6yo Gelding | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Tom Ryan (71kg)
Best Value at Pakenham: Britannicus
Britannicus is far from a muddy marvel, but the eight-year-old gelding is arguably one of the best jumpers in the JEH Spencer Memorial. He finished fourth in the race last year, and outside of race favourite Stern Idol, this is no harder than what the son of Roman Emperor is used to. He finished second on a Soft 6 to Vanguard in last year’s Brierly Steeplechase at Warrnambool, and that, combined with a 0.5kg weight advantage on his rival this time round, looks the right form reference. From barrier one, Aaron Kuru will have no trouble in stalking Stern Idol throughout, and with a clean display of jumping, we have no doubt Britannicus can give us a sight at a big price with online bookmakers.
Best Value
Race 6 – 
#3 Brittanicus (1)
8yo Gelding | T: Symon Wilde | J: Aaron Karu (70kg)
Sunday quaddie tips for Pakenham
Pakenham quadrella selections
Sunday, April 16, 2023
- 1-2-3
- 1-2-3-5
- 1-6
- 3-4
Investment: $48 for 100%