Harness racing tips incoming! Dabble’s very own Tim O'Connor has broken down the racing from Melton and provided you with his suggested wager for each of tonight's 10 races. They’ve done all the hard work for you finding the best harness racing tips, so you don’t even have to lift a finger – how nice is that?!
Without further ado, see Tim O'Connor's race-by-race guide for tonight's amazing card at Victorian harness racing headquarters:
Melton, Race 1 - 6. Operative Line - Win @ $3.10
Very tough way to start the card, but I like how Operative Line is going about his business. He smoked home for fourth here last week and some of his prior runs have been full of merit. He looks some chance of finding the front tonight and if he does, he will be very hard to run down.
Melton, Race 2 - 10. Ladies In Red - Win @ $1.60
She's first-up this year on the back of an injury, but Ladies In Red is a serious star of the sport. She'll jump short but will win.
Melton, Race 3 - 8. Triple Eight - Each-way @ $5.50 / $1.85
Very hard race with a number of winning chances, but Triple Eight was as stiff as you'll see last week when held up for what seemed an eternity before finally getting out and cutting Bulletproof Boy - who runs in tonight's Victoria Cup - to a narrow margin. Can Greg get him away from the inside at the start? He's one of the best in the bike, so it’s worth an each-way play at the price.
Melton, Race 4 - 11. Tradie Lady - Each-way @ $6.50 / $2.00
Rockinwithattitude is a star filly who will again lead and prove hard to run down, but I'm tempted to have something each-way on Emma Stewart's runner Tradie Lady. She thrashed Shes Ruby Roo in a race at Bendigo in August and that horse ran down Rockinwithattitude to beat her last weekend. It looks a good play if - and it's a big if - she trots the whole way and doesn't make a mistake like she has her last two outings.
Melton, Race 5 - 1. Ollivici - Win @ $3.50
Look, Queen Elida is a deadset superstar. Like, seriously good. But Ollivici is also extremely talented and comes up with the ace gate at a much better price than his main rival. For those reasons, I've got to lean his way in a great little race for the fast class trotters. Be surprised if one of the two don't win, so play narrow in Quaddies.
Melton, Race 6 - 12. The Lost Storm - Each-way @ $7.00 / $2.05
Super edition of the Victoria Derby and there's a handful of chances depending on how the race is run. Heat winners The Real Sherlock and Petracca are the obvious main players, but the value runner to me - despite the back row draw - is The Lost Storm. He was a beaten $1.12 favourite in the heats last week when it was discovered he had an issue, however I'm keen to play small the win and heavier the place in the hope he’s back to his best this evening.
Melton, Race 7 - 10. Captain Ravishing - Each-way @ $23 / $4.60
The night's major feature is a genuine heavyweight showdown and such a difficult race to predict through the early stages. With so many possibilities and potential leaders, I'm expecting a decent tempo to really bring the backmarkers into play. Therefore, I'm siding with the electric Captain Ravishing, who looks to be really primed for this event on the back of a third placing in the TAB Eureka and two sharp trials in recent weeks. If he gets a look at them late, good luck holding him out with his freakish turn of foot. Small the win and bigger the place is the way I'll be playing.
Melton, Race 8 - 10. Major Delight - Win @ $2.35
The three-year-old fillies seem a very even bunch, but the one horse that might just be a bit special is Major Delight. She's got a career record of 12 wins from 13 starts, and while there's a chance this race might not be run to suit from the back row, I've got to tip her on top in a cracking Victoria Oaks. Do I want to really launch at the price, though? Not really.
Melton, Race 9 - 7. Terry - Each-way @ $10 / $2.60
Few question marks around the favourite Captain Bellasario of late, so just leaning the way of a horse in real form. Horrible draw, no doubt, but I think Terry’s a touch of value for a pacer racing close to his best. In Kate Gath we trust!
Melton, Race 10 - 4. Locksley Lover - Each-way @ $5.00 / $1.80
Love Keayang Ignite, I really do, but just going to lean the way of Locksley Lover, who has been very competitive with arguably the country's best trotter in Queen Elida recently. And he's a much better price than the favourite. Small play the win and heavier the place at $1.80 as I think he’s close to a lock to run second.
And just like that – you've got 10 awesome tips. Isn’t that awesomely awesome? Yeah, we think so! We love that you love harness racing, and if you want to join other people who also think harness racing is the bees-knees, then look no further than Dabble’s Banter channel, here you can talk about harness racing until your heart's content.
Note: Odds correct at time of publication.
