The Punter’s Prince goes through the runner-by-runner for Newcastle’s huge $1,000,000 feature event – The Hunter.
With Lost and Running drawn in the Newcastle Racecourse carpark, will there be someone outside of the favourite to take home the coveted Hunter crown?
#1 Lost and Running
JOhn O'shea
His last three runs have all been enormous in much tougher races than this.
Was only two lengths off Nature Strip in The Everest and then just over a length away from Eduardo in the Classique Legend (1300m).
John O’Shea’s stable is going great guns at the moment.
However, the barrier makes the horse’s chances all the more slim though with a miracle ride needed from Hugh Bowman.
Has to be the on-top selection based purely on the form he is in, but the price of $3.2 looks under the odds.
Odds: $3.2 the win and $1.55 the place.
Finishing position: First
#2 top ranked
annabel neasham
A very intriguing international runner who has been acquired by Annabel Neasham.
This six-year-old horse has been running in some fairly strong company over in the UK and comes into this first-up after 126 days away from the races.
James McDonald has been booked to ride immediately which is a sign this horse will be screwed down enough to win on his Australian debut.
Has a great fresh record with five first-up starts for five wins which tells he will be ready to go.
Definitely the main threat to the favourite and might very well start much shorter should be the early money for this horse be anything to go by.
The winning bet in this race given he looks guaranteed a top two finish.
Odds: $4.8 the win and $1.90 the place.
Finishing position: Second
#3 gem song
kris lees
Local trainer Kris Lees saddles Gem Song after a 231-day spell.
Nash Rawiller has been booked first-up which is a positive sign.
This horse has only had one start at the track for a win and will definitely need some luck from the inside barrier.
Odds: $13 the win and $3.70 the place.
Finishing position: Fourth
#4 kementari
james cummings
The old boy from the Godolphin camp.
Tough to see him winning this race from barrier 13.
Needs it easier than this.
Odds: $19 the win and $5 the place.
Finishing position: Tenth
#5 bandersnatch
m, w & j hawkes
Bandersnatch looks well under the odds here.
He was a $10 elect when going up against Lost and Running in the Luskin Star Stakes who started $1.40 favourite and crushed him.
Prefer to risk him at the price.
Odds: $6.5 the win and $2.3 the place.
Finishing position: Third
#6 signore fox
peter & paul snowden
A backmarker who will be conceding the leaders a very big start.
He is a $26 for a reason and will probably start double the price if you cannot make up ground on the day.
Odds: $26 the win and $7 the place
Finishing position: Ninth
#7 standout
gerald ryan & sterling alexiou
Comes out of the Classique Legend (1300m) just like Lost and Running but has a significantly longer starting price out of that race.
Kerrin McEvoy getting back on can only improve his chances as will enjoying a perfect trailing run from barrier five.
This horse’s credentials over 1300 metres are the only caveat on him here.
Odds: $17 the win and $4.6 the place
Finishing position: Fifth
#8 dawn passage
gai waterhouse & adrian bott
Needs a big spike off what he did first-up.
This is probably his level, but needs to find another gear.
Tim Clark in the saddle definitely helps given his ability to get his mounts close to the speed and travelling well.
Odds: $14 the win and $3.90 the place.
Finishing position: SIxth
#9 roheryn
james cummings
Jason Collett will try and do what he always does from wide barriers.
Snick back to last and go up the rails to save all the ground.
This horse will need a huge amount of luck to win and even if the gaps do appear, do not think he is good enough to catch the leaders.
Odds: $34 the win and $9 the place.
Finishing position: Eleventh
#10 sweet deal
john thompson
The connections here do not inspire too much confidence.
Not sure where Brock Ryan decides to position this mare.
She does have a good credentials at the track and ran well behind Icebath last start.
Although the barrier kills her winning hopes.
Odds: $26 the win and $7 the place.
Finishing position: Twelfth
#11 Prime Candidate
bjorn baker
Led into a pretty solid headwind up the Flemington straight behind Quantico last start.
Looks the leader in this race, but will tasked with facing another brutal headwind coming into home straight if what the meteorologists predict is anything to go by.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.4 the place.
Finishing position: Seventh
#12 Special Reward
kris lees
Started $61 in a benchmark event at Randwick last start.
Comes down in the weights which is a tick, but this race is has much more depth than what he faced last Tuesday.
Odds: $26 the win and $7 the place.
Finishing position: Thirteenth
#13 stockman
joseph pride
Resumed after a 125-day break.
He is a stayer who will be using this race as a platform for runs beyond 2000 metres.
Will not be backing him in this race.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.4 the place.
Finishing position: Last
#14 countofmontecristo
kris lees
Needs it easier.
Odds: $61 the win and $15 the place.
Finishing position: Fourteenth
#15 Wandabaa
Kris Lees
Prefer this horse over the short course of 1200 metres and less.
Barrier 14 will probably see her settle wide with no cover which ruins her hopes.
Odds: $16 the win and $4.4 the place.
Finishing position: Eighth