Racing: On Parole likely to take off with the loot

The Grand National at Riccarton today is an intriguing contest with The Big Opal (left) one of the top chances. Photo / Trish Dunell

Tough gig punting at Pukekohe and Riccarton today with a handful of carefully selected each way prospects looking the safest.

Start at Pukekohe with Race 3 and On Parole. She is a wet tracking mare who failed last start in the Taumarunui Gold Cup.

Dropping back to R75 will suit her ideally and while there are a couple of handy horses in this she is up to coping with them. Rain on the day, which looks likely, should make conditions ideal.

This looks an ideal type of race for Bowie (No2, R1), trying to make it three straight. He is tough and this contest, with a small field, will require that. Even with topweight he doesn't look badly placed. Stablemate Arzak (No3) is a danger.

In seven visits to the races Suliman (No2, R2) has promised to win a race and after his middle distance debut last start at Matamata, should be ready to take his first trick over 2100m today. From an inside barrier he should get a peach of a passage under Jason Waddell, resuming from a decent break following surgery. Avant (No11) is stepping up in distance for the first time. Being by Shocking from a Zabeel mare, she should cope easily. She deserves a winning turn.

It took Hello M'Lady to stop Liquid Inspiration (No6, R4) making it three from three last start and if that horse was engaged here she would be the $1.50 favourite. Liquid Inspiration fights hard and that will be important today. What about Buffalo Lass (No9) to spice up the exotics.

Race 5 is a toughie. Cameo (No6) was 5.5 lengths away last start, but her second was not a bad effort. The 3kg claim here, taking her down to 53.5kg, will come into play. Rocanic (No8) can run a race with a 2kg claim and Plazabeel (No1) makes some appeal in a race that is wide open.

Every wet track in New Zealand is different at this time of year, which could explain the brief lapse in form of Myrcella (No5, R6).

After back to back wins at Pukekohe and Ellerslie she went to Ruakaka to face a good surface and she failed. Last start she tackled Te Aroha on a track that was so testing any failure could be forgiven. Back to a track she has previously won on it could be a different story today.

Maquis (No10) was a good third in a strong field at Rotorua last time and faces a slightly easier task this time.

If ever a horse deserves to break through it's Valante (No2, R7). He has been so brave in being beaten, mostly by narrow margins all winter, and his fighting spirit will be put to good use this time. Worthiswaitngold (No3) can get some of it. The wide barrier may not be a nuisance late in the day.

The Grand National at Riccarton is an intriguing contest with The Big Opal (No3, R7) and Upper Cut (No1) slugging it out as a likely scenario. If that's the way it plays out, The Big Opal holds more of the trumps, but Upper Cut's unbridled courage can never be easily swept aside. The value is Mr Mor (No4), who will be running on when most in this field will be gasping for oxygen. The famous race would have been better suited by some rain to loosen the puggy Riccarton surface, but none is forecast.

Not easy at Flemington today, but one worth looking at is Snitzson in Race 7, one of four in the race for the Hayes-Dabernig stable. He goes well fresh and was stylish at the recent jumpouts. Flippant looks the danger.