Racing: $1.2m meeting a magnet for multi punters

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Racing's most common question will be replaced by a slightly more complex one at today's $1.2 million Jewels meeting at Ashburton.

Usually punters strive to find any winner but previous Jewels meetings suggest that isn't the problem, with 46 of the 75 Jewels races held in the past seven years being won by the favourites, with the pecking order well established this late in the season.

So the day has become a magnet for multi punters looking to link up the favourites for a juicy return, as happened with disastrous consequences for the TAB bookies at Cambridge seven years ago.

Today's meeting has five odds-on favourites, so the multis will again be hugely popular, which raises a different question: Which favourite do I leave out?

As much as the meeting looks set to be dominated by the likes of Dream About Me (R1), Speeding Spur (R4) The Orange Agent (R5) King Denny (R7) and Have Faith In Me (R9), the avoidance of bad luck needed for all five to win suggests punters shouldn't be too greedy.

In reality they might all be too good but this is, after all, group one so their rivals aren't simply going to get out of their way.

Dream About Me might be the exception to that rule, with her dazzling trial win last Saturday reaffirming her superiority to the point rival drivers might hand up if she comes looking for the lead down the back straight.

Regardless, with a 25.2-second last 400m to her name last week and the unfaltering backing of trainer Mark Purdon, she should win.

Purdon has also laid his cards on the table with Have Faith In Me and King Denny, with the latter looking to have the gate speed and open-class form to lead and win.

Have Faith In Me is no certainty because Follow The Stars and Hug The Wind are serious horses and Derby runner-ups, but unless he has bad luck the favourite has had their measure in the past.

The Orange Agent is one horse multi punters could ponder adding in because she has been beaten when out of her comfort zone and was unplaced last start.

However, unless she is crossed at the start, and driver Maurice McKendry will be awake to that, she looks near impossible to beat in front, with Fight For Glory worth covering on if she gets to $4.

Speeding Spur is a wonderful young trotter but could have to work hard early and that would leave him vulnerable to Monbet so his $1.80 might not be value, even though he should probably win.

Those looking to inject some real value into the multi should consider Lancewood Lizzie (R3). She has had plenty of support to lead throughout from the ace and trainer Barry Purdon believes she is back to her best, which is going to make it awfully hard for Willow and Venus Serena and maybe even Cala to catch her.

Chase The Dream (R6) is the one pacer who could start the day second favourite on the fixed but end up favourite on the tote, so while he is no good thing, his fixed quote probably represents value in a race where there will be nearly no support for the bolters.

That leaves the biggest name horse of the day in Sky Major (R8) looking to add a third Jewels to his Messenger and Chariots Of Fire victories.

His biggest concern could be a lack of real pressure in the middle stages if Tiger Tara is able to wrest the lead early.

But if they go hard and Te Kawau makes life awkward for Tiger Tara, then Sky Major might be too good.

He has got out to $2.20 and $2.50 would be impossible to ignore.

Suggested multi: Dream About Me (win), Lancewood Lizzie (place), The Orange Agent (win), King Denny (win), Have Faith In Me (win).

The best add-ons are, in order: Sky Major, Chase The Dream and Speeding Spur to win or take another ticket with Lancewood Lizzie to win as well.