Punting guide to Invercargill today

A big day at Invercargill today including the running of the Group 3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup at 6.49pm. Here are a few tips to help guide you through the 11 race programme.

Race 1 - Lippy, Sippy and Drippy Mobile Pace - 2.37pm

A curious race to start the day with punters needing to keep in mind that the top two horses place a lot more often than they win.

Magic Sign can be an up and down type but he was last seen charging out of the pack to run second at Cromwell.

A repeat of that effort from his much better draw will make him hard to beat today.

I'm Watching You is like a cashflow machine, you could just about lock him in for a top 3 placing.

Tash’s Bad Girl looks a threat on her last start despite copping a tricky draw.

The Matriarch took her game up several notches in her last start win.

She faces a tough draw but with luck she can be in this.

Selections: Magic Sign (3), I'm Watching You (4), Tashs Bad Girl (7), The Matriarch (13)

Suggested Bet: I'm Watching You – Eachway

Race 2 - NS Vets Total Vetcare Mobile Pace - 3.13pm

Onwardsandupwards debuted at Omakau and ran on nicely on a track where it is hard to make ground.

From a great draw, she looks well placed to land in a handy spot and take some catching.

Betting Sensation has been running excellent races and she looks very close to winning, so she rates highly.

Better Be Watching ran on really nicely in her last start, she must be considered too.

Sweet Southern Lass was a real black booker in her last start.

She ran out of room when travelling like a winner, so don’t let her seventh placing catch you off guard.

Selections: Onwardsandupwards (3), Betting Sensation (5), Better Be Watching (2), Sweet Southern Lass (6)

Suggested Bet: Onwardsandupwards – Eachway

Race 3 - ILT/Northern Tavern Mobile Pace - 3.50pm

It all looks pretty obvious in race 3 with Smart I Am coming in on the back of two very close seconds.

Today looks the day for him to secure a deserved win.

Bowlem Over is well up to winning this but his last couple of runs have just been fair.

They were both on grass and he’s back on grit today, so expect better.

A Major Star is another who has run two seconds recently. He moves to a tougher draw today but he’s in the mix.

Scruffy is perfectly placed in barrier 1 and can run a handy race in his debut.

Two others to consider are Rakadan and Cash Affair, both have tricky draws but with any luck they can feature.

Selections: Smart I Am (5), Bowlem Over (3), A Major Starr (13), Scruffy (1)

Suggested Bet: Smart I Am – Win

Race 4 - AON Insurance Trot - 4.24pm

Mixed Faith has been in outstanding form through the summer and she looks well placed to continue that here.

Her manners have been excellent recently and she looks to have the motor to handle her 20m handicap.

Dont Ask when a cracking race first up, making up plenty of ground in a harder race.

She’s a serious winning hope.

Jimmy Carter is well up to competing in this grade, he can be a little risky but he’s an eachway chance.

Night Watch is very honest and she looks capable of slotting into a Trifecta or First4 spot.

Selections: Mixed Faith (8), Dont Ask (10), Jimmy Carter (11), Night Watch (4)

Suggested Bet: Mixed Faith – Eachway

Race 5 - Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes heat 2 Mobil Pace - 5.02pm

Early tactics are set to play a massive part in this race as they’ll decide where the two favourites land.

Captain Tom has a draw advantage over With Style which will be crucial if he can take advantage of it.

Captain Tom has looked classy in his short career and will take plenty of catching if he can lead.

With Style beat Captain Tom in their last meeting and he’s a serious winning threat.

It would be no surprise if he was able to blast to an early lead and prove very hard to catch.

Dalton Shard was second to Captain Tom at Omakau and from barrier 1 he’s a huge top 3 chance.

The Orange Roughy has impressed in his short career and is a must include in Trifectas & First4s.

Selections: Captain Tom (5), With Style (6), Dalton Shard (1), The Orange Roughy (4)

Suggested Bet: Captain Tom & With Style – Quinella

Race 6 - Vet South Equine Southern Belle Heat 2 Mobile Pace - 5.27pm

It won’t be easy for Lifes A Beach but she has the class to overcome tricky circumstances.

Her wide draw over this sprint distance is a decent handicap but on her recent efforts the mare looks ready to run a big race.

Joes Rock is a very genuine mare and she starts from a workable draw, especially compared to her main rivals.

She’s a great eachway chance.

Folklore is sure to get back and run on, so the small field here looks to suit her.

Look for Mighthavtime to be up on the speed, which is a great place to be over the sprint distance. De La Renta should also be considered.

Selections: Lifes A Beach (8), Joes Rock (6), Folklore (7), Mighthavtime (4)

Suggested Bet: Life’s A Beach – Eachway

Race 7 - Prydes Easifeed Southern Lights Handicap Trot (Group 3) - 5.52pm

Love N The Port has been running outstanding races in the North Island and only last week he chased home Majestic Man at Cambridge.

On form he should take plenty of catching from the front line, with the only question being whether he can handle travelling the length of the country to get here.

Oscar Bonavena is all class and he has looked back to his best in his latest runs. He’s a huge winning hope.

My Moment’s Now is well up to this company and look for her to be running on into the placings.

Simone Lindenny is an honest mare who can fill a Trifecta or First 4 spot.

Selections: Love N The Port (3), Oscar Bonavena (9), My Moment's Now (8), Simone Lindenny (6)

Suggested Bet: Oscar Bonavena – Eachway

Race 8 - Lumsden Four Square Mobile Pace - 6.21pm

The top two picks in this race face contrasting draws, setting up an intriguing clash.

Magnetic Terror brings all the right form but he must overcome a tough draw in barrier 8.

Wattlebank Arnie steps up in grade after a good win and he gets the advantage of barrier 1.

Quaddie VC is another facing a tricky draw, but it would no surprise to see him feature with any luck.

Meohmymartini is one of the leading hopes who has a workable draw, so she must be considered.

Yorokobi and Escobar both need to be in your calculations too. Escobar is well up to winning but his chances are dictated to by Wattlebank Arnie, who has drawn in front of him.

Selections: Magnetic Terror (8), Wattlebank Arnie (1), Quaddie VC (13), Meohmymartini (5)

Suggested Bet: Wattlebank Arnie – Eachway

Race 9 - Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup Handicap Pace (Group 3) - 6.46pm

The handicap conditions of the cup point towards Macandrew Aviator being top pick.

He’s battled the best of the best and in his last run on this track he ran an outstanding 3rd behind Krug at Group One level.

Lumen Caeli is an up-and-coming talent from the powerful Purdon stable who also has the advantage of starting from the front line.

One Change comes into today’s race on the back of an excellent fourth.

His only disadvantage is giving several of his rivals a head-start from the 20m mark.

Pembrook Playboy is a class act but he hasn’t been to the trials lately.

That means he gives away a race-fitness edge to the rest of the field, while also starting 20m behind most of them.

Selections: Macandrew Aviator (5), Lumen Caeli (4), One Change (6), Pembrook Playboy (7)

Suggested Bet: Macandrew Aviator – Eachway

Race 10 - Neville Cleaver Fishing Gold Chip Final Handicap Trot - 7.11pm

Our Golden Kenny produced an outstanding last start win at Omakau and a repeat of that effort should see her home.

She did break early in her last start, which is a slight concern, but her recovery was impressive.

As his formline suggests, Johns Boy is very genuine and he’s a big eachway threat.

Wanna Play With Fire is one-for-one and there looks no reason she can’t compete well here.

Five O’Clock Gerry looks the best of the front markers who get a head-start on the top picks. Styrax rates next best.

Selections: Our Golden Kenny (8), Johns Boy (6), Wanna Play With Fire (4), Five O’Clock Gerry (3)

Suggested Bet: Our Golden Kenny – Win

Race 11 - Grinaldi Lodge Mobile Pace - 7.41pm

Captain Starlight has the draw and the gate speed to carry punters' hopes in the last.

His last start at Winton was very solid and he looks even more suited to this track.

My Pleasure should get a sweet run from barrier one and could well have the last say.

His last run was just fair but he’s better than that.

He’s A Meister definitely has the game to win this, but he’s got a tricky draw and will need a slice of luck.

Rightazz is somewhat similar, his last start was excellent and he just needs to be within striking range from his tricky draw in barrier 13.

Selections: Captain Starlight (3), My Pleasure (1), He's A Meister (9), Rightazz (13)

Suggested Bet: Captain Starlight – Eachway