Matt Markham has been through the form guide and speed maps and has provided his race analysis and betting strategy for each of the seven races at the Cambridge Harness meeting on Thursday 17 September below:
Comes out of four very strong maiden fields up at Alexandra Park to open the career and while there have been mistakes in some of the runs from Pyrenees (2), the two fourths have had plenty of merit. This is a whole lot easier and if able to trot onto the speed early and stay down then should prove hard to catch.
Selections: 2-4-8-9-6
| 2. Pyrenees (2) J: Lyn Neal 4948 T: Andrew & Lyn Neal | |||
| Mixed Auckland efforts to open career. Keep safe in first start on home track. | |||
More good than bad recently from the experienced Ohoka Achilles (1) and he finds the perfect kind of race for him tonight too. Loves to buzz out and be handy and shouldn’t get too much pressure so with own terms, might run them off their feet late.
Selections: 1-4-8-3-5
| 1. Ohoka Achilles (1) J: Owen Gillies 89504 T: Owen Gillies | |||
| Sound attempt 7-days ago off this draw. Sure to meet with good support in this. | |||
A good win on this track three starts back by Paradise Ali (9) and in behind some pretty sharp ones since then. Sliding back down in grade here and will find life a little easier. With good manners should be right in play late tonight.
Selections: 9-2-8-7-6
| 9. Paradise Ali (9) J: Josh Dickie 93167 T: Derek & Neita Balle | |||
| Adequate attempts since his 14Aug success. Can’t be discounted here. | |||
Didn’t look at all comfortable last Friday night at Auckland did Blacklaz (4) but the money had come and plenty were involved, too many to drop on that one performance. Back going the other way around might help and this isn’t a strong field so right in play.
Selections: 4-7-5-3-2
| 4. Blacklaz (4) J: Scott Phelan 134×8 T: Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan | |||
| Made mistakes at Auckland in first northern start. Back to left-handed. Rates. | |||
A huge step back in company for former Gr.1 winning mare One More Moment (8) tonight and she’s been very good in her last three or so runs and appears to be getting back to somewhere near her best. That’s dangerous for rivals tonight with only a 15 handicap to deal with.
Selections: 8-9-7-2-1
| 8. One More Moment (8) J: Mark Purdon 04834 T: Zev Meredith | |||
| Back in grade & only 15m behind look a good recipe for success. Top pick. | |||
Another on the decent step down in grade is The Surfer (7). He’s been knocking around in some really good fields of late and running good races too without a whole lot of luck. Smaller field here suits and if he can get into a nice spot then should finish over the top of them.
Selections: 7-4-1-6-5
| 7. The Surfer (7) J: Kate Coppins x7666 T: Arna Donnelly | |||
| Strode home well at Auckland 28Aug. Win chance despite the 20m handicap. | |||
Expecting sharp improvement from Lilith (2) off the back of her first up run last time out. Was a tidy enough effort too in a much stronger field than she faces tonight. Good draw and the right driver makes her the best bet to finish the evening.
Selections: 2-6-3-5-1
| 2. Lilith (2) J: Zachary Butcher 44×6 T: Derek & Neita Balle | |||
| Sure to have taken benefit from a tidy Auckland resumption. Looks hard to beat. | |||
