PUNTERS will be challenged on the first day of the Port Lincoln Cup Carnival today at Ravendale Racecourse, lining up the form of the locals against the visitors will cause real headaches for those looking to make a dollar.
Lady Brolga will win the first race but looking for value elsewhere on the day the suggested bets are Hunted Angel each-way, Jiggles straight out and Twenty Million the place at big odds.
Race 1 - 2-year-old
This should be another soft kill for Lady Brolga - she has been dominant in her two starts to date against similar opposition and with the rails draw looks unbeatable on what we have witnessed so far.
With only 56 kilograms to carry it looks as if only bad luck will beat the Ross Lyons trained filly.
Who is going to run the quinella is very open - Akavardo showed signs of improvement last start while first starter Red Wrapper has been working well on the track in preparation for his debut today.
Tips: Lady Brolga 1**, Red Wrapper 2, Akavardo 3.
Race 2 - Maiden 1350m
Finniss Latte stuck to the task well last start when a competitive second at Strathalbyn in mid January. Expect this visitor to measure up and be hard to beat.
Hunted Angel has hit the line hard in his two runs this time in and probably cost himself a place cheque by laying in over the concluding stages last start - out to the 1350 today looks ideal.
Saunders Lane and Turf Cutter also look major players, both will be suited at the distance after their last start placings when close-up behind Ripason.
Tips: Finniss Latte 1, Hunted Angel 2, Saunders Lane 3.
Race 3 - 0- 72 Rating Handicap
Kooda Surprise looks ideally placed to return to the winner's stall today. Places behind Hands Of Stone and Pass The Ace recently in open company reads well for a race of this nature. At the value she is the top pick.
Testy on her day would beat these but her consistency has been a real problem.
Yoshi's Opal can show a return to form from a good barrier draw and the honest One Sox Tess will be well fancied no doubt.
Tips: Kooda Surprise 1, One Sox Tess 2, Testy 3.
Race 4 - 3-year-old Class 1
Three last start maiden winners clash here and lining them up looks a task.
Miss Blevite can go on with the job, the Brian Clarke trained filly hasn't run a bad race to date and will take a power of beating.
Ye Beauty was ultra impressive winning on debut, we won't see 40-1 today but a repeat performance sees this filly in the finish again.
Revel Jet is improving with every outing.
Revoc might be worth a place ticket with a soft run in transit from the pole.
Tips: Miss Blevite 1, Ye Beauty 2, Revoc 3.
Race 5 - 0-61 Rating Handicap
Jiggles, now with Byron Cozamanis Jnr, must be kept safe. This mare has been racing in better company on the Victorian provincial circuit and will go very close to winning this.
Twenty Million won this race last year and although his form doesn't read well of late he is capable of bobbing up at big odds.
Out For Lunch resumes and will improve on whatever he does and Xera Wonder Woman won a weak maiden at Lock on debut but with further improvement might be the blow out horse.
Tips: Jiggles 1*, Twenty Million 2, Out For Lunch 3.
Race 6 - 0-74 Handicap 1750m
Kingnadim started favourite in his first look at the track last start and should have finished closer when ninth behind Dashagh. Stepping out to the 1750 and with an anticipated good run behind the speed he will be hard to hold out at the business end of the race.
In Private has raced well here this season and his Kangaroo Island performances were adequate - each-way for this runner.
Dujac and Roll On Royce can finish on off an anticipated early speed battle, both are nominated for the cup on Thursday and it is worth noting that two out of the last three Port Lincoln Cup winners have won this race in the lead up to cup glory.
Tips: Kingnadim 1, In Private 2, Dujac 3.
Race 7 - Class 4 1350m
This looks an open race on paper and tricky to read; visitors Gift Of Knowledge, Brute Bernard and Cuban Kid all have winning claims.
Brute Bernard and Ziparoo have drawn wide and will have to go hard early to cross and this could set the race up for the likes of Cuban Kid and possibly Tarvon, who all have big finishes.
The unpredictable Danrossa and can be placed given a good run just behind the speed.
Tips: Brute Bernard 1, Cuban Kid 2, Tarvon 3.
Race 8 Rating 0-58 1200m
Shadem has been crying out for the 1200 on what we have seen in her two runs to date here for Simon Drewitt. With barrier one, if she can position up midfield, she will get home hard and finish over the top of this lot.
Widen The Gap was slightly disappointing when favourite last time out but will go forward early and I am sure he can give some cheek if he can find the rail.
Roll On Bai has been racing well here of late but the barrier is a concern over this starting point and he will get a long way back.
Tips: Shadem 1, Widen The Gap 2, Roll On Bai 3.
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