3 minute read

A good Monash a fortnight back is followed up by an even better Bletchingly where a high standard is matched up with a deep betting contest.

There are cases to be made for plenty in the Bletchingly. Last year's winner Viridine warmed up nicely late in the Monash and looks a chance of turning the tables on Red Can Man - but that one has form in WA that says he can improve on what he did there as well. 

He was blown off the park by The Astrologist prior in one of the form handicaps off the winter so far and Streets Of Avalon is a Group One winner who won the Australia Stakes in good style when resuming at this trip last campaign. Throw in a fitter Isaurian (may run in Sydney) and Order Of Command (who won't hate the rain around) and you've got yourself a contest on the track and in the betting ring. 

The each way play, in our view, is Order Of Command who didn't fire on good ground in the Monash but that gives us a better price in a better scenario now. 

Order Of Command is a Wangoom winner, and that is about all you need to know when it comes to wet track credentials... He hasn't won this season but he has been at least as good as he has ever been with placings in the Linlithgow (again), the Heffernan, the McCarten and most recently the Galaxy behind the flying Eduardo. 

That Galaxy placing on soft ground is appealing as any piece of form in the race and hopefully barrier one is no penalty by the eighth race on the card. Even so, he has Craig Williams to offset that and at prices around 12/1 (perhaps better for good shoppers) he appeals on an each way basis in a good each way contest. 

Over the same course and distance, one race earlier, a three-year-old handicap also throws up an interesting betting contest where the favourite is The Big Easy who, at around $4.50, we think can be backed. 

The Big Easy has been on the go since January, running nine times for no wins before heading to Sydney last time. He did run well in each and every one of those nice runs, in a string of good form races, before putting up a career best effort on heavy going in Sydney, smashing up a horse that came out and won well up there last week and running good late splits in the process. 

There are a few interesting runners engaged in this but none that have put up form quite that good and from a positive draw under the top jock The Big Easy gets his chance to follow up. 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Day: Race 7 #2 The Big Easy @ $4.50 

Each Way Play: Race 8 #3 Order Of Command @ $13.00