Sandown Hillside betting tips – Wednesday, 26 August 2020
A Wednesday afternoon having a punt at Sandown on the Hillside track is an ideal way to mark the halfway point of Stage 4 Lockdown in Melbourne. The rail is out 6m, and if history is anything to show, the track tends to play quite fairly. We are racing on a Heavy 8 at the time of writing and would expect it to remain the same throughout the meeting, with jockeys perhaps going wider and wider in the home straight throughout the day.
Wednesday racing tips for Sandown Hillside
Opoho Dreaming @ $5.50 Sportsbet
A Fillies & Mares BM70 kicks off the program. Opoho Dreaming (no.7) for Michael Maroney returned in fine style last start at Warrnambool when breaking her maiden on a Heavy 10. The extra 100m shouldn’t be a concern. With Jordan Childs on board and drawn the rails, she will look set to settle on speed. Toughest to beat would be the ever-consistent West Wind (no.2), who was a length off Sovereign Award three weeks back at Moonee Valley when settling midfield. We would expect the Maher & Eustace-trained mare to settle one off the fence on speed and be right in the finish.
He Can Star @ $13 – BEST VALUE Sportsbet
A BM70 over 1000m sets to be one of the tougher races on the card with every runner having genuine claims. At $13 it is hard to ignore He Can Star (no.3), who ran deep throughout the entire race a fortnight ago but was only 1.5L off the winner. Campbell Rawiller has three wins from four starts on the gelding and jumps back in the saddle here. Manhattan War (no.7) was also in that race two weeks ago, where he finished second and had a little bit of an easier run than He Can Star. The obvious dangers are joint favourites Sapphire Crown (no.4) and High Risk (no.6), but we will go with the value in the race.
Peggy Selene @ $3.70 Sportsbet
Another BM70 over 1000m, and another race where most (if not all) runners have genuine claims. Peggy Selene (no.4) seems to be a smart bet here, as race fitness could be pivotal with three of the eight runners resuming and the other four coming in second up. The Godolphin colt Jerle (no.2) last ran in a Group 3 at Morphettville on ANZAC Day when in the market, and the shorter trip may benefit even though he rarely wins out of turn.
Buona Sera @ $3.80 – BEST BET Sportsbet
Race 4 features one of the better bets on the card in Buona Sera (no.11). The three-year-old filly was headed at the 300m mark last start and fought to the line strongly only to be beaten in a photo to Dirty Thoughts, who came out and won at The Valley on Saturday. Buona Sera should have the speed to cross from the wide draw and then dictate terms up front. Drone Strike (no.9) will appreciate the drop in class after competing in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes last start and will be right in the finish.
Wairere Falls @ $6.50 Sportsbet
The opening leg of the Sandown quaddie and $5 the field is what we’re greeted with next up, and it will be quite a wide start for many punters. ‘Oliver On’ is always a gear change to look out for when doing the form, and that’s the case for the Chris Waller-trained Wairere Falls (no.13). The gelding was beaten by under half a length a fortnight ago at this track, and the extra 300m should suit. The consistent trio of Highclass Harry (no.1), Just Jake (no.5) and Rock The Bowler (no.7) are must haves in the quaddie, and it would not hurt including a couple of others too.
Crimson Ace @ $5.50 Sportsbet
Market leaders Crimson Ace (no.3) and Cadre Du Noir (no.4) ran into a handy type last start in Skyman. Although there wasn’t much to separate the two in that run, there is quite a disparity in their odds. Crimson Ace seems the better value, as Thomas Stockdale’s claim could prove the difference between the two this time around. The ever-reliable duo of Light Pillar (no.1) and Austria (no.7) need to be included in all quaddies.
Chuck A Luck @ $4.60 Sportsbet
First up off a spell and straight on to a heavy track is usually not ideal, but that’s not the case this time around for Chuck A Luck (no.7). He was 3.2L off the impressive Kinane in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate when right in the market, and that form should tie in quite well here at Sandown on a Wednesday afternoon. In a wide-open market, the dangers come from Mr Tipla (no.4), Howlowcanyougo (no.5), Diode (no.9) and Kamien (no.10).
Upswing @ $9 Sportsbet
The last race of the card is another tricky one to find a winner in. We have gone with the Patrick Payne-trained Upswing (no.11), who looks the one to beat with Billy Egan on board. The renowned jockey and trainer combination joins forces once again with the lightly raced six-year-old gelding, whose win over the impressive High Emocean two starts back on soft going presents quite the form line. The in-form Approach Discreet (no.6) will settle on speed and take a power of beating, but still expect Upswing to fight out the finish.
R5: 1-5-7-13-14
R6: 1-3-4-7
R7: 4-5-7-9-10
R8: 3-6-9-11
$480 for 100% Sportsbet