The Eric Thomson Memorial Final highlights a nine-race card at ‘The Creek’ this Thursday night and you can find the inside scoop in our Albion Park Preview.
My best bet is a bitch in race 7 that is racing in red hot form and looks well placed to continue her winning ways.
Punters have been coming up to me lately and saying, “give me five Shep” because the past four Thursday Albion Park previews have all provided at least five winners.
While the races look competitive this Thursday, here’s nine tips that will hopefully get our snouts back in the trough.
Loving Angel (2) started well in her first start over this course and distance last week but just couldn’t cross from box 7 and was posted wide but to her credit she fought bravely to finish fourth in 30.31 seconds.
The Jeff Crawford-trained bitch was very good the start prior when flying out of this box to lead all the way over 520m at Ipswich in 30.66 seconds.
The dog drawn to her inside doesn’t have much speed so she should be able to get on the arm.
1 Unit – Loving Angel (2)
Trapper Tears (6) isn’t the quickest beginner, but he has a motor late and that should hold him in good stead against his rivals who could be suspect late.
The son of Goodesy was last seen powering home to finish second over this course and distance in 30.27 seconds to winning machine Backcreek Benny.
Four starts back he proved too strong when running on from the back to win in 29.81 seconds.
The small field is to his advantage so he shouldn’t be too far away in the run.
1 Unit – Trapper Tears (6)
Cheers For Bella (2) settled second over this course and distance last start and gave a good account of herself when swamped on the line to finish fourth in 41.99 seconds.
The Tony Apap-trained bitch had been racing in consistent form before that with four seconds in a row and a win over this course and distance.
She’s a previous winner over this course and distance and a repeat of her last start effort would see her hard to beat.
From box 2 she should find the front.
1 Unit – Cheers For Bella (2)
Ace’s Chance (6) loomed as a winning chance over 710m here last start but couldn’t get out from behind the tiring leader.
Prior to that, the Jeff Crawford-trained dog had won three in a row including twice over this course and distance.
First-up from a spell he found the front in the run home but tired in the closing stages to dead heat with Garrison before giving them a chasing lesson three starts ago when setting a personal best of 34.75 seconds in a nine-length romp.
This is a quality field but he can return to the winner’s circle.
2 Units – Ace’s Chance (6)
Jay Walking (8) was electric when winning his heat of the Eric Thomson Memorial last Thursday.
The son of Fernando Bale exploded out of box 7 to lead all the way in 29.82 seconds which was the quickest of the three heats.
He’s improved with each start and can continue that upward trajectory.
Box 8 isn’t ideal but if he begins as well as he did last start then he should be able to find the front by the first turn.
1 Unit – Jay Walking (8)
This is a tricky race to assess with none of the dogs showing any sort of form to suggest they’re winning chances.
Sleek Charm (8) jumped well over this course and distance last start but copped a check shortly after which saw her drop out of the race.
The daughter of Orson Allen found the line well two starts back to finish third in 30.34 seconds.
She races best when she has clear air and that should be afforded to her from box 8.
0.5 Units – Sleek Charm (8)
Hooked On Kisses (1) has won three of her past four starts and looks hard to beat as my best bet at Albion Park.
The Jeff Crawford-trained bitch won back-to-back races over 520m at Ipswich in good times before finishing seven lengths second in her first start over this course and distance.
She returned to winning form last start when running down Moet Magic for a half-length victory in 29.98 seconds.
She drew box 7 that night but now comes up with the inside draw.
2 Units – Hooked On Kisses (1)
Brunswick Flyer (2) was slow away from this box but rocketed home to win over this course and distance last start in 29.97 seconds.
The son of Zambora Brockie has an excellent record over this course and distance of seven wins and six placings from 13 starts.
This is his fourth run back from a long break so he should be at peak fitness now.
While he isn’t the quickest of beginners, he is aided by the three dog wanting to run to the outside so that should open the rail into the first turn as it did last start.
1 Unit – Brunswick Flyer (2)
Flaming Galah (4) returns to Albion Park after finishing third in a heat of the Rockhampton Cup last start.
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained dog has enjoyed racing over this course and distance with wins in his past two starts here.
On both occasions he has produced powerful finishes to run down his rivals and win in 30.30 and 30.47 seconds.
He looks well placed in this Masters race.
2 Units – Flaming Galah (4)