3 minute read
The three-day Warrnambool Carnival kicks off with a strong edition of Brierly Day on Tuesday!
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
Ten races will be run and won, headlined by the time-honoured Brierly Steeplechase at 2:20pm local time, and with showers expected throughout the day, we're faced with a track rated in the Soft (6) range at publish.
Check out my selections for every race below in my 2024 Brierly Steeplechase Day preview.
RACE 1 - 11:20AM: Unboolievable Maiden Hurdle (3200m)
Alakahan can break his hurdle maiden at the 'Bool on Tuesday.
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has turned in plenty of quality performances on the flat throughout his career and he found form around the likes of Herman Hesse earlier this year.
A recent trial over the jumps was full of merit and this looks an ideal starting point for him.
1 Unit Alakahan
RACE 2 - 12:00PM: Ecycle Solutions Maiden Hurdle (3200m)
Bazini also debuts over the jumps today and I am happy to have something small on.
Bazini turned in some fine performances last year, finishing second in the Terang Cup most notably, while he also contested the Warrnambool Cup during this carnival.
He finished down the order in BM64 company at Ballarat earlier this month, but that was always just a competitive hit-out with a view towards the 'Bool, and he has trialled nicely over hurdles since.
1 Unit Bazini
RACE 3 - 12:40PM: Choices Flooring Warrnambool Maiden Hurdle (3200m)
I'm siding with former Kiwi, Leaderboard in this maiden hurdle.
A veteran of 52 career starts, Leaderboard turned in some fair performances in black type company over in New Zealand last time in, and he finished a credible second behind Huntly Castle in a Pakenham maiden hurdle on debut in Australia.
With improvement for that experience, he can go one better this week.
2 Units Leaderboard
RACE 4 - 1:15PM: Cally Hotel Maiden Plate (1200m)
Dimora Queen can make a winning return to the races on Tuesday.
Dimora Queen made just one appearance during her debut prep, working home well to finish second behind Flying Fizz here at the 'Bool.
She has reportedly furnished into a stronger horse, and she can begin her rise through the grades.
2 Units Dimora Queen
RACE 5 - 1:45PM: VOBIS Gold Strike (1000m)
La Vie En is on debut, but I think she'll take plenty of beating in the VOBIS Gold Strike.
By Blue Point, the two-year-old filly was a very impressive winner of a Terang jumpout and looks to have a very bright future.
Fred Kersley has options from the rails draw and the filly can stamp herself as one to follow.
2 Units La Vie En
RACE 6 - 2:20PM: Brierly Steeplechase (3450m)
Tuesday's feature race is headlined by leading jumper Stern Idol, who will take a power of beating as always.
Stern Idol rarely turns in a poor performance, and he makes his own luck by going forward and giving them something to chase.
He was an easy winner at Pakenham earlier this month and I am confident he'll do it again, but he's too short for me at current odds ($1.65 at publish), so I am going to select him as the winner in a Same Race Multi and pump up my odds with Britannicus running into the first three.
Same Race Multi selections:
► No. 1 Stern Idol (Win)
► No. 2 Britannicus (Top 3)
RACE 7 - 2:55PM: Carlton Draught BM70 Handicap (2350m)
This looks to be one of the more open races on the program and there's a case to be made for many of them, including Rudhyar.
Rudhyar returned to the races to finish seventh, beaten more than five lengths in BM78 company on Mornington Cup Day, but he ran into some excellent opposition on that day including Sea What I See.
He strips fitter, he's a winner at this point of his preparation previously, and we can have something on each way at big odds ($16 at publish).
1 Unit E/W Rudhyar
RACE 8 - 3:30PM: Merlin Handicap (1700m)
The talented Claidheamh Mor returns to action in a winnable race at the 'Bool on Tuesday.
Claidheamh Mor has always been a good horse, but he went to another level last year, winning four of his last six starts, including both the Coleraine Cup and the Country Cup Final at Caulfield in November.
His fresh record is excellent, and he looks to have a lot of these rivals covered for class.
3 Units Claidheamh Mor
RACE 9 - 4:00PM: Book Jericho Thru Langley's BM70 Handicap (1200m)
The form around Keitel this time in has been really good, and the horse finds himself in a winnable race on Tuesday afternoon.
Keitel returned to action following a year off to win in BM64 company at Pakenham in January, and after finishing on the placegetters' heels second and third up, he only just missed behind Beour Bay in a BM78 at Terang last time.
He's hard fit and something like this looks well within his wheelhouse.
3 Units Keitel
RACE 10 - 4:30PM: Carter Group National BM64 Handicap (1100m)
Unlimited Magic can win the last on Brierly Day.
Unlimited Magic hasn't been seen at the race since October, but she turned in some smart performances last year, winning two of five starts and finding form around some quality opposition.
The booking of Jamie Kah enhances her chances this week.
2 Units Unlimited Magic
