Big day under the Alps on Sunday

Methven’s big day kicks off Sunday (Oct. 8) with the feature $40,000 Alabar Methven Cup looking a really even lot with handicaps making it even tougher for harness racing punters in a race that has been taken out by luminaries such as Smolda,Flashing Red,Manaroa and Arapaho in the past.

The favourite is likely to be Franco Indie for the Purdon stable who have had a mortgage on the race lately. Others likely to be well tried in the betting include Mo’unga,last year’s impressive winner Smiffy’s Terror and the mare All America Lover.

If the  3,000m race is truly run however it is a couple of  proven stayers on the grass surface in Homebush Lad and Got You Covered who may have the final say. Both horses were very good in last year’s event with little luck late.

In the end an old dog for a hard road and it may be Homebush Lad who has the nose in front at the end of a grueling staying test.

The other feature is the $25,000 What The Hill mares Classic which is always a massive betting race for the club and looks to be a difficult race to pick.

Historically backmarkers have a tough task getting into the race which is generally run at competitive pace. The best of the front markers are likely to be It’s So Easy and the talented Sunny’s Sister but both are prone to mistakes and would need to get it right early. One who rockets out is The Bloss who will make short work of her 10m handicap, Idle Stuartia is a similar type and both are legitimate chances at good odds.

Eurostyle trying for a hat trick and last year’s winner Muscle Bank who will be improved by her fresh up effort are others in the mix. The two best mares at this stage in the race are the speedy Galway Girl and the rugged Love You mare Galleon’s Ambassador trained locally at Ashburton by John Morrison.

The question is can they overcome 20m historically difficult but the courage of Galleon’s Ambassador gives her the inside running by a whisper in a really puzzling line up.

The Methven Club will be saying thank you to loyal owners, trainers and members with a  bar-b-que after the last race for a quick sausage and drink (gold coin donation) before the trip home,

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mike Heenan, for Methven Trotting Club.