3 minute read

Last week at Caulfield was a hint of the spring carnival ahead of us. This week The Valley reminds us that it's still winter...

It's a stand-offish sort of meeting around the Valley with plenty of resuming horses with tricky looking profiles and races that have a bit of a raffle vibe about them but there are a couple of good betting handicaps at the back of the card and that is where we are focused.  

We threw up Tavisan at the Valley meeting three weeks back and he ran a good race, just getting picked off late after working in the run from a wide draw. As we pointed out there, he was off a soft 1000m run first up and should come on for racing this time in. With the 1200m run under his belt now he looks a tough nut to crack, and that he ran the race of his life here on this day last year isn't a bad thing. 

We think he can get back to that sort of form this time around and if he does that then he will be measuring up to better races than this. 

The last is very evenly matched from a ratings point of view and each way options appeal. Al Galayel was left with far too much to do last time around here behind Iverloch and Masculino who re-oppose today. That like-for-like form should stack right up and the closing splits from Al Galayel there were a pleasing sign of life after a couple of plain runs to start his prep. 

He could well be workng himself back to top form and that would see him over the odds in a race like this at a course where he is twice a winner. That he links up with an in-form (assumes he is ever out of form...) D. Lane is an added bonus. $6.50 is being bet at the moment but we'd be surprised if we aren't able to take better than that on the day. 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Day: Race 8 #11 Tavisan @ $3.80

Each Way Play: Race 9 #4 Al Galayel @ $6.50