Betting tips / Paul Bugeja / 19 April 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Timeform's Gary Crispe focuses his daily racing preview on handy galloper Grand Ginger in today's Morphett Arms Hotel Handicap.

The Tony McEvoy-trained Grand Ginger has been runner-up at three of four runs this time in, and getting out to a mile today will prove the one to beat in this RB75 rated race.

The lightly-raced gelding, a two-time city winner last campaign to a mile, resumed this time in over 1200m here and after getting well back hit the line hard for a length second. He then stepped up to 1400m on the Parks track. Getting well back and hooking widest on the turn, he failed to come on and finished well back in a disappointing run.

He may had have some issue as he then had a month off before returning to 1200m here again. And like his fresh-up run, he got back and loomed up in the straight but found one better on the day. Last start, again at 1200m here, he settled fourth on the inside before hooking around heels into the straight and joining in. Grand Ginger found the front but once again was nabbed right on the line, finishing a nose second behind Glacial Miss.

Today he not only drops in grade but gets back out to a mile, where he was won at his only try. He is yet to finish worse than second in four starts at the course and his weight is offset by the claim for Jake Toeroek in this race for apprentices only. From a good gate he will be close to the speed and gets his chance to break through.

While the favourite Grand Ginger is going up 400m in journey today, Victorian visitor Whiskey Cruyff comes back in journey from 2000m.

The David Noonan-trained gelding is overdue for a win but on his recent efforts looks a leading chance here on his interstate visit. He was fourth at Moonee Valley four back before coming here for an 1800m race where he ran on well for fourth. He then had a brief let-up before dropping back to a mile at Kilmore where he again ran on well to place.

Last start, up to 2000m for the Stawell Cup on his home track, he settled second last in the small field before trying hard against the tougher company, finishing fourth behind Constant Force. Today he finds an easier restricted class race and carries a nice weight after the claim for Alana Brown. He will be strong at the journey and should be hard to hold out.

The Phillip Stokes-trained Beleconi boxed on well last start and looks an each-way hope with the much lighter weight.

The gelding was seventh here over a mile two back in tougher grade on a Saturday before heading back to the provincials where he worked home soundly over 1500m at Gawler for a close-up third. He will carry just 56.5kg after the claim today and with two wins already at the course, one here at the journey, he looks a solid each-way hope again.

Our Iridium ran poorly last time but has claims on his previous form and will give a sight at odds in front.


Gary's TOP PICKS for RACE 7@MORPHETTVILLE
(1) Grand Ginger
(2) Whiskey Cruyff
(3) Beleconi