Cracking fields assembled for Ashburton on Monday

By Michael Guerin

Last start wins and favourable barrier draws have seen Republican Party and Muscle Mountain open favourites for the two open class features on Magic Monday at Ashburton.

The Labour Day meeting will have an enormous bearing on the market for many of the upcoming feaures during Cup week while the support card will be the same for all sorts of age group races.

The NZB Airfreight Flying Stakes has been shorn of the Barry Purdon/Scott Phelan runners, with Merlin and Sooner The Bettor heading to Kaikoura while Better Knuckle Up and Jeremiah are now not coming south until next week at the earliest.

But all the South Island big names are there headed by Republican Party, who opened $2.90 from barrier 7 but could close around even money.

We Walk By Faith has the potentially tricky barrier 1, Akuta is back and gets barrier 2  while Don’t Stop Dreaming will start from barrier 6 in a race where the start and first 300m will be crucial.

The start to the $40,000 Tactical Landing Sprint for the trotters appears to have far less early options with either Muscle Mountain (barrier 2) or Bet N Win (4) likely to lead and then one of them should win.

The bookies opened Muscle Mountain $1.70 but punters can get $2.30 with the Box Seat Boost (for a maximum $100).

There is incredible depth across the two and three-year-old races for both gaits throughout the programme but the Gallagher Insurance Showcase looks the hottest with the glamour boy three-year-old pacers including Marketplace, Got The Chocolates, Rubira and Greased Lightnin.

To see the Ashburton fields click here