Betting tips / Timeform / 26 April 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Timeform's Gary Crispe focuses his daily preview on progressive galloper Eravana in today's Steven Griffith Handicap.

The gelding, prepared by John O'Shea at Randwick, was out of the placings in town last time but looks hard to beat as he tackles this Benchmark 70 over 1200m today.

A half brother to top sprinter Virage De Fortune, Eravana has been lightly raced to date but is a horse on the up.

On debut he had a tough run and found the front over 1200m at Kembla Grange but was in turn run down right on the line, finishing runner-up behind Wealth Park in a good form race. He then raced over 1250k at Canterbury Park and sat closer to the speed in second spot throughout before again lifting strongly, but this time, failing to catch the winner and going down a nose.

He went for a good spell before resuming over 1200m at Newcastle. There he had a big weight but strode to the lead from the inside gate and under a good hold. Cruising in front he was allowed to strike clear in the straight, running away with a 4.3-length win in a good form race already behind Forster.

Last start, over 1400m for the first time at Warwick Farm, he settled second and was there to the turn before striding to the front. He was there to the furlong but swamped out wide, finishing a 3.8-length fifth behind Zakynthos Imprintz in yet another strong form race.

Today the gelding has been freshened and comes back to the 1200m journey. Although drawn wide it's unlikely to cause a concern because over this journey he may be ridden a little quieter today.

Fellow Randwick trainer Jason Coyle has Nico Moochi engaged and the in-form gelding looks the main danger.

The four-year-old has a career record of three wins and a placing from five runs and can only be fitter for his latest win.

On debut on a heavy track the gelding was well held but improve sharply on that experience with a maiden win at his second run on slow ground at Goulburn. He then raced here and after crossing to the lead from an outside gate endured a pretty tough run before kicking strongly and finishing a half length second.

He then bounced back when to 1400m for the first time at Kembla Grange, leading throughout to score a narrow win after setting up a five length break before the turn. After a spell, the gelding resumed at Kembla again in this grade over 1200m where he took up the running and was challenged up the straight but pulled put enough to score a half-length win.

He will be fitter for that run and meets the same grade here. The gelding has drawn awkwardly but will cross and give a big sight again.

Malambo has placed here in this grade at his last two starts and looks an each-way chance again.

The seven-year-old finds it hard to win but is rarely far away and should run another forward race here.

Boulevard Baron is resuming and as a fresh up winner last campaign who should be finishing on strongly. He has been trialling well.


Gary's TOP PICKs for RACE 7@WYONG
(1) Eravana
(2) Nico Moochi
(3) Malambo