Day two of The Championships is already upon us, with some very even fields looking to provide great value for punters. To give us a bookie’s eye-view of this weekend, we spoke with Palmerbet’s Grant Palmer about early betting and to get his top tips.
Where is the money going for the Oaks and Sydney Cup?
We haven’t had a lot of early action in the Oaks with nothing really jumping off the page last weekend. The Kiwi runner Bonneval has easily attracted the most attention, but Nurse Kitchen is the one they are starting to come for.
The Cup has been one-way traffic for Big Duke. The money started after his win in the Manion Cup and has turned into a flood after last week’s impressive win in the Chairman’s.
Who wins the Oaks and Sydney Cup?
We think there is some value out there for both races this year. On paper Who Shot Thebarman hasn’t had the most impressive campaign, but you just feel as though he’s been primed to the second to win the Cup. If he can repeat his prior Melbourne Cup efforts he wins.
Lasqueti Spirit has had a very unusual preparation for the Oaks and has avoided other three-year-olds in open company. That could give her a massive edge, and at the moment punters’ are being given a price to find out.
Can anything beat Winx in the Queen Elizabeth?
As much as it will hurt us, I really don’t think so. She’s just the best and will gap them once again.
Who is your best value pick over the weekend?
It’s a nightmare of a race to line up and you have to wait all day, but Artistry looks great value in the last at Randwick. Her stablemates are in front of her in the market, and are both first-up and don’t bring better form. She’s at least their equal, so you’re getting a good price around the $8 mark.
Who is your lay of the weekend and why?
Global Glamour looks a touch vulnerable in the Arrowfield to us. Not only is she coming back in distance after a campaign that started in December, she’s also in against the boys on Saturday. She’s a great horse, but we’re happy to lay her as favourite.
