Racing: Major Mark isn't a sure-fire winner

No matter how bad the temptation is to take really short odds about Major Mark at Cambridge tonight try to resist it.

While the star juvenile should win his Sires' Stakes heat at the rare Saturday night Cambridge meeting, he is anything but the certainty his price usually suggests.

Major Mark (R4, No4) was beaten as a $1.08 favourite three starts ago and then paying $1.40 two starts ago.

And even though he justified hot favouritism in the $150,000 Young Guns Final at Alexandra Park two weeks ago, that victory still raised some questions.

He paced roughly out of the gate and almost galloped, a trait which would suggest he may not simply turn up, lead and win like favourite punters will want tonight.

"I thought I was going to lose him (gallop) out of the gate last start," said trainer-driver Mark Purdon.

"I would like to think he would be better left-handed but his manners behind the gate will need to improve for me to be confident of him going straight to the front.

"So even though he worked well on Wednesday, there is still a risk with him."

Having drawn inside his main rivals Major Obsession (No6) and Thumpem (No8), Major Mark should still win but those who have had a bad day punting on the gallops and are looking to bounce back should be wary of taking anything below $1.60 about him.

Purdon is far more confident with Lancome (R6, No2) in the first northern heat of the Nevele R series.

The tiny speedster choked down in the Pascoes Oaks last start but is a natural leader with high gate speed, the ideal ingredients for a 1700m win at Cambridge.

She won her only start this track and distance in a fast time in December and she will give De Lovely (No7) plenty to chase.

De Lovely looks the best northern pacing filly and is probably more talented than Lancome but so many Cambridge sprint races are won from in front the two could be very close in the market.

De Lovely's stablemate Franco Hendrix (R1, No10) should start favourite punters off well tonight.

He has been racing the best 3-year-olds in recent months and form out of those races is going to transfer nicely to lower grade fields.

His draw looks almost ideal and it is hard to see him beaten, with driver David Butcher certain to drive him like the best horse in the race.

Supremacy (R2, No2) appeals as a good each way chance in the second as she has the gate speed to use her best draw for some time and made ground three and four wide when a brave second at Alexandra Park on premier night last start.

The night's handicap feature brings a bunch of battlers together and veteran Manotick Express (R7, No3) could be the best each way value.

He dead-heated at Alexandra Park last start so stays in the same grade and a recent change of training regime has helped him return to his best.

He thrives when racing just off the pace without doing any work, which tonight's conditions could allow.

Chas Luney (R9, No5) comes in well as a claimer tonight and will be driven by Kendall Laidlaw, who partnered him perfectly in a stronger race three starts ago.

He has a sharp sprint for an old man, with his biggest danger being Lifeoftheparty (No11).

Lifeoftheparty always looks more comfortable left-handed.