Betting tips / Gary Crispe / 14 February 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Honest galloper Offshore Echo is the horse Timeform's Gary Crispe believes should be hard to hold out in today's Ezyas Car Wash Cup (race 5) at Swan Hill.

The lightly-raced gelding, from the John Thomas yard in Echuca, is fitter for one run from a spell where he ran well in RB72 grade, and in the same class today should take tossing again.

Last campaign, Offshore Echo had a very consistent preparation, winning three times, including one here at the trip, as well as running a host of good races.

After winning over 1400m at Echuca in this class six runs back, he was freshened before a solid fourth in town at Sandown Lakeside. He then ran third there over a mile where he came from near last before starting favourite in the Manangatang Cup, but seemingly didn't run out the 2000m journey and could manage only fifth. Back to a mile at Seymour, he got back and made steady grouind into fourth before a well-earned break.

Following his spell, he resumed this campaign at Donald over 1200m in this class. Settling last in the small field, he ran on strongly in the straight, finishing third in a three-way drive to the line, just a long neck from Barriers which was first past the post. Just behind the winner was The Shank, which successfully protested and was awarded victory.

Offshore Echo meets The Shank 1.5kg better this time for the long neck margin and will be much fitter for the run. At the course he has raced three times for a win and two seconds, and one of those was at this journey. Regular rider Stacey Rawiller stays aboard for today's race, and with the extra 100m he should be hard to hold out again.

The Shank is racing well this campaign and looks the hardest to beat again.

Prepared by Jarrod McLean at Warrnambool, the gelding ran some good races last time-in, which included a 1400m home track win. Resuming there in this class over 1200m, he drifted back and turned last, but hit the line well to finish a close-up third. Last start, over 1200m at Donald, he got back on the inside and was held up before working home hard, running second across the line before successfully protesting.

He rises in weight for today's race but will be fitter again and suited by the longer trip.

While Offshore Echo and The Shank will both be hitting the line strongly, the small field may well suit South Australian visitor Seventh Bullet.

Fresh-up this campaign he finished fourth with a big weight over 1000m at Mildura, then ran a solid race in town at Morphettville when a close-up sixth. He then stepped up to 1350m at Strathalbyn, and after drawing an outside gate and working hard early, lifted strongly to finish a neck second.

Last start, over 1400m at Murray Bridge, he took up the running again from a wide gate but this time kicked strongly enough to score a length win. He is racing in top order at the moment and is ideally suited here over the 1300m journey from the inside gate and a small field. He will take running down.


GARY'S TOP PICKS FOR RACE 5@SWAN HILL
(1) Offshore Echo
(2) The Shank
(3) Seventh Bullet