Punt Drunk: Melbourne Cup winner set to return in 2021

Punt Drunk horse racing news & views

Friday, how we love you! It’s one of the best days of the week, and for many it will be the last Friday they work before some time off for the Christmas period. For racing fans, it’s the day before the best day of racing, and we’re sure plenty of punters will be after some bank builders heading into the holidays.

Cross Counter poised for another Melbourne Cup tilt

The 2018 Melbourne Cup winner, Cross Counter, looks set to come back to Flemington for a tilt at the 2021 edition of the great race. He mounted a title defence in 2019 but could do no better than an eighth-place finish. He hasn’t raced since that first Tuesday in November last year, but trainer Charlie Appleby has confirmed he will return to the track in Dubai on March 27. Despite being off the racing scene for close to 18 months by the time he gets a start in Dubai, you would think he would come to hand quite quickly considering some of the races he has competed in. Safe to say if we had an 18-month spell, we’d be breathing pretty hard after the first 100m.

Collett on naughty list for Boxing Day races

Jason Collett is quickly becoming a punter’s pal with the amount of winners he appears to be booting home. The disappointing news for the in-form jockey is he has to sit out the week of racing to come after copping a three-meeting ban for careless riding aboard Dance Too Hard on Wednesday at Wyong, meaning he will miss the Boxing Day races at Randwick next Saturday. Collett did manage to put together a winning double on Wednesday to send him to 27 wins for the season, which puts him fourth in the metropolitan jockeys’ premiership in New South Wales.

Isotope and Away Game building towards a Magic Millions tilt

We shall see a preview of the 3YO Magic Millions event on Saturday afternoon when the Tony Gollan-trained Isotope lines up against the Maher & Eustace-trained Away Game in the Gold Edition 3YO Plate at Doomben. Isotope is a $1.80 favourite the matchup after blowing away his opposition last time out, while Away Game is a $4 chance. Both gallopers will be looking to use the Gold Edition as a launching pad to the Magic Millions Guineas in a month’s time. Isotope is a $4.50 favourite in the all-in markets for the featured event on the Gold Coast, while Away Game is $8.50.

Friday Racing Tips

Punt Drunk’s best bet for Friday, December 18

Moonee ValleyRace 3 – Tycoon Bec (#3) $1.95 with Sportsbet
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