3/4/2021 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Oakbank, Great Eastern Steeplechase day

The Oakbank Carnival continues this Saturday, headlined by the Great Eastern Steeplechase (4950m). The weather is fine, the track is soft (5) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

Great Eastern Steeplechase 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Great Eastern Steeplechase

1 Casino Seventeen (Bet Now: $2.25) is a beauty for Travis Doudle. Three weeks between runs since recording his second straight win, finishing best in a tight go on the Parks track. Beat home Morty, who ran super last Saturday, so the form reads well and only has to hold his form to just about win again.

2 Pimm’s Party (Bet Now: $2.45) is a query at 1400m, but does have the turn of foot to be dangerous provided it’s a soft tempo. Ran over 1200m on Adelaide Cup Day and probably just lacked the class to go with them late behind Echoes In Eternity. Better suited at this level, so perhaps that can offset the 1400m.

4 Impossible Action (Bet Now: $7.00) is going well I think for the Jolly camp and is suited up to 1400m. Ran over 1250m on the Parks track two weeks ago when back in the small field and while he was never really likely, liked the way he finished his race off when third to Melba Storm. Leading contender against these.

3 Reynolds (Bet Now: $2.70) is such a fascinating runner. Formerly in Hong Kong, he now finds himself with Michael Hickmott. One thing I’ve learned with these Hong Kong imports, they go either two ways. Either they fire and have immediate success, or are just total flops. Hickmott is a gun with a tried horse, so a market watch for sure.

7 Prince Saiyan (Bet Now: $4.20) is nearing a win. Looked like it was there last time out at Strathalbyn but in a deceptive finish, the verdict didn’t go his way. He’s had numerous chances to break the maiden tag, like some engaged here, but he’s racing well at the moment and is nearing that elusive victory.

11 Smart Promise (Bet Now: $13.00) should be suited up in trip for John Hickmott. She resumed over 1000m at Bordertown where she was somewhat run off her legs early but loved the way she picked up late in the piece and was an eye catcher when third, beaten just under two lengths. Fitter, up in trip, she’s likeable.

1 Double Bluff (Bet Now: $2.15) wouldn’t look out of place in a Galleywood if he got conditions to suit, and those conditions are dry tracks, which is what he should get here. He took care of an average lot at Warrnambool last time and was dominant, with his flat speed coming to the fore late. Just has to jump clean to win again.

4 Mr Coyne (Bet Now: $3.40) looks to be coming along nicely. Nick Smart trains this galloper, who looked a good thing when racing here on Sunday and he duly was, bolting clear over the final 400m thanks to his good flat speed. Heading in the right direction and can cause problems with upside to come.

3 Coleridge (Bet Now: $12.00) is racing honestly and has found form over the jumps the last 12 months. He ran second to Double Bluff at Warrnambool before running second again, this time at Terang behind Hierarchal. He’s honest, should be thereabouts…just not sure he has the class to win, but stable is flying with their jumpers at the moment.

I’m with 2 Toff Love (Bet Now: $2.45). David Jolly trained gelding that has been given a mini freshen up, having not raced since Adelaide Cup Day when somewhat run off his legs and never really a winning factor, but was sound late behind Little Rich Boy. Think a fast run 1100m suits and the depth here is nowhere near as strong.

1 Stage Front (Bet Now: $3.40) is having his first run for Jon O’Connor. He ran two weeks ago on the Parks track when near the speed throughout and battled away pretty well I thought in defeat when second to impressive winner Larkham. 1100m is the query, but a soft draw and Jess Eaton sticking helps.

5 Heavenly Bridges (Bet Now: $10.00) is a former Henry Dwyer trained mare that is now with Kristen Mooney. Last run for the former camp came in the Flat Knacker on Albury Cup Day and just found them a bit sharp after sitting wide in the run. If she jumps/runs here, she could take catching at odds.

1 Zed Em (Bet Now: $1.50) picks himself doesn’t he. He has won the past two editions of this race, with it not being run last year due to Covid. He ran on Wednesday in the Von Doussa and had an epic battle with Yensir, with the import just getting the better of Zed Em in a great clash. Depth here nowhere near as stronger and I actually think $1.70 is overs.

7 Spying On You (Bet Now: $4.80) is an absolute beauty for Grant Young. 11 years of age but is still maintaining a healthy zest for racing. He ran over 2900m on the flat here last Sunday and while it wasn’t the strongest race going around, he was dominant and continued his love affair with the track. He won this race in 2017 and is going well enough to run another strong race.

5 Ascot Red (Bet Now: $5.50) has the talent to be dangerous at a price but things do need to fall into place for him. He looked to be going just fair at Terang last time before dumping Lee Horner in the straight. Jury is somewhat out on how well he is going but his best is good enough to cause problems.

Class gets 2 Eperdument (Bet Now: $2.90) home? Her form was ordinary but she found it again when winning the Strathalbyn Cup and since then, has gone right on with it. Last start came in the Adelaide Cup when a closing second to impressive winner Good Idea. Back in trip no issue and she does have class on her side.

1 Dexter You Devil (Bet Now: $3.20) is an absolute beauty for Shayne Cahill. Has been up a fair while but continues to race at such a good level, the latest start seeing him finish over the top in taking out the Port Lincoln Cup. That was 1960m and off that, I think the 2150m here will be okay for him.

4 Lostarc (Bet Now: $13.00) is getting back to some positive form. Ryan Balfour trained stayer who ran fourth in the Exalted Craftsman race from a fortnight ago on the Parks track. He was wide no cover for the trip and entitled to drop right away, but he kept finding and stuck on well to run fourth. Off that, he’s a leading chance here.

7 Seemingly Discreet (Bet Now: $4.4\20) for me. Talented mare for Phillip Stokes that resumes. Hasn’t raced since Jan 16 at Flemington where she found Fabergino a tad too sharp and tired late. She is a mare who does tend to race best with fresh legs and can see her sitting off a good speed, launching late.

14 Streetcar Stranger (Bet Now: $7.00) is second up and should prove hard to beat for David Jolly. Resumed over 1000m on the Parks track two weeks ago where he was run off his legs early but picked up and was good late I thought behind impressive winner and the very much in form Larkham. Fitter and up to 1100m, he’s likeable.

1 Dexelation (Bet Now: $8.00) is a quality galloper for the Jolly camp that resumes. This gelding hasn’t raced since October 17 on the Parks track when a game second to Fox Hall but was at the end of a long prep and needing the paddock. Thought his recent trial was very good and can sprint well fresh.

I reckon 8 Plaisir (Bet Now: $6.00) is a great gamble. John Hickmott is having his first prep with this former David Atkins runner and as he gets out to suitable trips, he is getting better. Ran over the mile at Balaklava last time and worked home with real purpose late in the piece. He’ll eat up 1900m, has upside…think he only runs well.

2 Sandbanks (Bet Now: $9.00) is a very interesting runner. Formerly with Lindsey Smith, he now finds himself with Michael Hickmott. Last run came on William Reid Night at the Valley where he just did far too much work on speed and tired late. Hickmott is fast becoming a gun with the tried horse, so a big market watch.

7 Ace Attack (Bet Now: $7.50) has a liking for Oakbank and that should be respected given how tricky this track is. Be forgiving of his effort at Naracoorte last start. He was wide no cover and doing plenty of work. Just tired and felt the pinch late behind Cuban Toonite. That was his first run in a month, so there is room for improvement.

6 Skilled Bunch (Bet Now: $3.60) is a quality mare for the Jaensch camp that is three weeks between runs since recording a sharp win on the Parks track. Lobbed into a lovely spot from the wide gate under Gatt and once he pushed the button on the mare, it was race over. Galcrum franked the form last Saturday, so she’s going well and is hard to beat.

12 Born To Play (Bet Now: $3.30) looks suited up in trip for the McEvoy stable. Resumed over 1250m on the Parks track where she was parked off the speed and chased strongly late when a closing second to Load And Go. Like her up in distance and Vorster should have her in a plum spot from the draw.

13 Magic Dee (Bet Now: $11.00) should be around the mark. Shane Oxlade trained mare that comes back up to Saturday grade after winning last Wednesday at Strathalbyn. Put into a lovely spot under Vorster and she was always in control, getting the job done. Think she can run well and is a knockout hope.

BEST BET: Race Three Number 1 Double Bluff

NEXT BEST: Race Six Number 2 Eperdument

LONG SHOT: Race Eight Number 8 Plaisir

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 2

Leg Two: 1, 3, 7, 10, 14

Leg Three: 2, 7, 8, 10

Leg Four: 6, 9, 12, 13

$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful

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