Mitchbet

Welcome to a glorious Sheep Hills Cup day at Warracknabeal where there is an eight race card on what looks to be a soft track. A nice support card in town at Caulfield but the real action like always, is in the bush. Don’t forget to like and subscribe to @mitchbetAU on twitter and good luck!

Race 2 Number 8 Tutankhamun

A bit of a speculative way to start the day. This 4YO gelding by Palentino has a terribly unlucky ability to draw wide barriers. The only two times he’s drawn on the inside half of the field, he’s run into the placings. Drawn in barrier 1 today, country jockey of the year Jarrod Fry to ride, at $18 a small each way bet can hopefully give you something to shout about.

Race 3 Number 9 He’ll Rip

Leon and Troy Corstens are bringing two debutants to Warracknabeal and without giving too much away, I think they can go 2 from 2. He’ll Rip has has two jumpouts to prepare for his debut, the most recent at Werribee where and he finished second to Grinzinger Allee and beat the talented Crosswinds and Squad. Backed from $5 to $3.50 in early markets and while I concede Beatbox is a danger, I’m siding with the debutant.

Race 4 Number 9 Shipstern

The second of Team Corstens debutants. This $350,000 colt holds a Caulfield Guineas nomination, a close third to Philosophiser in a Flemington straight track jumpout but has unfortunately drawn barrier 15 of 17. Regardless, the straight track jumpout is usually a dead giveaway to me that a stable thinks a horse has ability. If he can overcome the wide draw, he’ll hopefully be winning and progress to bigger things.

Race 6 Number 6 Claudia Shiver

A 4YO mare formerly trained by Lloyd Kennewell now with the Andrew Bobbin stable, she resumes after a 21 week spell off two solid jumpouts. The form out of those jumpouts, where she ran against much better class than she meets here, points to the fact a move out to the Grampians has done her the world of good. Would not have to be a world beater to win here, even though once again she’s facing a terrible barrier. Around $4 a fair price.

Race 7 Number 4 Petruchio

He finally returned to the winners stall carrying 61kgs at Mildura last start and I feel like this is the reason why Declan Bates is riding out at Warracknabeal today. The horse that he beat last start Rapid Riser won again at Murray Bridge last Saturday also. Has strung a couple of wins together on soft earlier in his career so a wet track is no problem. Story of the day, has drawn barrier 10 of 11 but over the staying trip, hopefully Batesy can mitigate any disadvantage.