Wednesday Racing Tips - Sandown Hillside Racecourse 29/03/23

The Midweeks return to Sandown Hillside off the back of some of the highlights of the season being here in the last few weekends and we have another really strong card with eight races on the card for a total of $440,000 across the card. There are a couple staying races, some sprints and a bunch of mid distance races and this should all make for an exciting day of racing in Victoria. Follow me below as I outline my best bets of the day. 

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#1 - Tacito (BEST BET) - $1.75
#2 - Freakofnature - $3.70
#3 - Birks - $5.50
#4 - Esskay - $12.00

BEST BET - #1 - Tacito (BEST BET)

Tacito looks like a genuine prospect for Ben and JD Hayes after having three outings to the races so far to kickstart his career and after debuting in the G3 Chairman’s stakes and placing third and then the Talindert Stakes at Flemington to place second he broke through in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic last time out. He did it ever so impressively, being right up on the speed all run out wide and just firing away at the 300m to clear the field. I think he will go on with it now and the short quote is justified.

THE DANGER - #2 - Freakofnature
Freakofnature is a two year old colt for Jason Warren that comes into this third up after racing in some tough company. He debuted at the races mid Febraury at this track and trip under Ethan Brown and he was super smart there, weaving through runners to get clear air and draw clear to score fresh. He then took a three week break before going to the Group two Sires Produce where he wasn’t disgraced but just battled along, having to do it tough out wide. Comes back now to race where he’s won before and in a smaller softer field and is the main threat to Tacito.

VALUE BET  - #3 - Birks 
Birks is a Peter Moody trained two year old and Carleen Hefel retains the ride for this second up attempt. On debut Birks showed a fair bit of talent, crossing from one of the widest gates to settle just behind the speed and then showed a mighty turn of foot coming from behind to motor home into second. That was just over three weeks ago and behind Brave Mead who raced well in listed company last weekend.

Selections:
#8 - So She Can Fly (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $7.50
#10 - Vittoriosa - $5.00 
#2 - Wascaly - $11.00
#2 - Wascaly - $9.00

BEST BET - #8 - So She Can Fly (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY)
So She Can Fly looks very well placed to make it back to back wins here after picking up a win at Arrarat last time out when back from a 12 week spell. He set eighth there before shifting out three wide at the 400m and storming home on the outside of the field to claim them late. Obviously, step up in competition here but he maps for a sweet run in transit, should settle close and still have a big kick late. I like his chances and am keen to have something on.

THE DANGER - #10 - Vittoriosa
Vittoriosa likely leads these? or settles very near to the speed and is another who is coming off a win. The Waterhouse/Bott trained five-year-old had an impressive return to racing last time out at Pakenham when he led and kicked well clear of them at the top of the straight, actually being able to ease down in the last 100m of the race which is something I have rarely seen a winning horse do. She draws a bit wider here and there’s a bit of speed around her but I think she’s in for a good prep.

VALUE BET  - #2 - Wascaly 
Wascaly has been away from the races for a long time but resumes here today under Smiley Chan as a Five-year-old now and although she hasn’t raced since late 2021 she had a flying start to her career. She won first up at Wangaratta over 1400m on the heavy before going to Cranbourne where she just missed over the 1600m to come second in a big field to some smart types and then went to Sale over the 1600m again where she scored smartly in a great time. Not sure how she resumes as the stable has been quiet but the talent was definitely there before.

Selections:
#10 - Reckoning (NEXT BEST) - $6.50
#14 - Seonee - $3.80
#11 - Skiddaw  - $21.00
#6 - French Moon - $19.00

BEST BET - #10 - Reckoning (NEXT BEST)
Mark Zahra jumps on the Nick Ryan trained Reckoning who comes into this third up and is a proven winner third-up in the past. He resumed here at the end of January in a BM70 over 200m less than this and finished 2.5 lengths behind the fitter/in-form Blow before going to Pakenham in this grade late Febraury over the same distance and finishing fourth then. He was very strong there, defying how the track was playing to motor home late and pass a few runners. I think he will be hard fit, maps well and with Zahra on board they can run a cracker.

THE DANGER - #14 - Seonee
Seonee returned to the races three weeks ago at this track after a short break and returned strong as ever, winning smartly over the 1400m in the same grade as this and she beat off some smart types. She pretty consistently fires second up which is what she was in that last run and I think she can go on with it now out to 1600m third up. She maps to sit on the speed and as long as she doesn’t get crowded out she’ll be as honest as ever.

VALUE BET - #11 - Skiddaw 
Jye Mcneil and Damien O’Brien combine on Skiddaw who is having his second run back at the races after resuming late last month at Pakenham in the same grade as this (albeit a softer field) and he wasn’t disgraced there when just boxing along to end up 5th of 12. He hasn’t been amazing historically second up but I do think that he maps very nicely and with a top jockey on and how he resumed I think he can make the necessary improvements to be in the finish with luck.

Plan on betting on the races this Wednesday? Betting online is surprisingly simple these days, and our Best Bookmakers area is the simplest way to discover the best online betting sites to follow our expert’s tips.

Playup is my top selection for Racing this week as they are providing some of the best overall fixed odds amongst the Australian bookies at the moment for racing. They are also very generous, often offering a number of racing promotions such as money back in bonus bets for 2nd and 3rd for a selected runner in a race of your choosing. They cover all Australian thoroughbred racing and are quite comprehensive in their international racing markets.

Join us on Saturday, Wednesday and Friday Racing tips, with articles throughout the week for the greatest free horse racing tips provided by our experts. Each week, our team’s racing tips highlight the most noteworthy race days and tracks, as well as expert analysis and best bets for selected races.

Additionally, we notify you of any significant scratchings affecting the races as well as any details about the track, notable jockeys to follow, or other factors that we feel are good to know. We will also cover any bonus bet or other promotions that are running that day and even have recommendations for other bets like multi tips, and our daily quaddie.
 
For a more in-depth explanation of horse racing bet types and tips for placing, visit our tips and information page.

My love for Mark Zahra continues to grow as he continues to put away races in Metro and Stakes grade racing and whilst it is a Wednesday, there are some super competitive races that he is in where his ride style at Sandown can be the defining edge on some other runners. I have outlined all his rides for the day below:

R2 - #2 - Milford Sound  - $11.00
R4 - #9 - Tennessee Knight - $12.00
R4 - #2 - Pretty Tavi - $6.50
R6 - #15 - Royal Hard Hat - $11.00
R7 - #3 - Loco - $3.70
R8 - #10 - Reckoning - $6.50

Sandown Hillside can be a challenging track to craft a successful multi bet, so I'm opting to stick to a specific strategy for this race day. I've identified those horses up near the speed (in the sprints/mid distance) as the most promising contenders at Sandown Hillside. I’m hoping this increases cashing the multi bet so be sure to follow me below for a fun bet to track over the course of the action!

R1 - #1 - Tacito - WIN $1.75
R3 - #8 - So She Can Fly - PLC $2.50
R8 - #10 - Reckoning  - PLC $2.40

Total Odds = $10.50
$50 Stake = $525.00 Return!

Odds provided by PlayUp, sign up for a new account here to get started.

Our experts have curated a bet type information page which delves into all the different types of exotics betting, check it out for clarification on the different types of exotics betting or just to brush up on your knowledge.

Sandown Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R1)
1st: 1
2nd: 2
3rd: 3, 4

$50 stake = 2500% flexi

Promotions are traditionally the primary way for punters to create an edge over the bookies, as they can save your cash when your runner fails to win, in the instance of Unibet they often offer 2nd and 3rd money back in bonus bets for a selection of races on the midweek and Provincial racing days. Coupled with their generous odds I have to put them as the top bookie promotion wise at the moment for Australian racing. 

If you are looking for the best promotions this week for Wednesday's racing I wouldn’t look past Unibet, often they offer odds boosts in addition to the money back promotions. Don’t forget to check your account as well for personal offers. 

Promotions often change so make sure you sign up at unibet.com.au to see what promotions are applicable to you and you may even be surprised to find some promotions that weren’t mentioned here!