Bendigo Picks

Will be a close run race between the top picks. RUE DE ROYALE drawn perfectly and racing back from the city, marginal top pick. ATHANATOS just missed as favourite last start at Sandown Hillside and gets the winkers back on, hard to hold out. EXPRESS GUARD placed when trialling at Cranbourne-Trn, chance to place. EL PASO first-up after 21 week break and has the speed to overcome drawing the widest barrier, capable of getting into the money.

SPELLMASTER first-up after 22 week break and placed at Bendigo on debut, genuine contender. ANNOTATE trialling strongly, don't treat lightly. RUSSIAN ESCAPE resumes from a 24 week spell and should race on the speed, still in this. SILVER HAMMER has two placings from three runs this prep and finished sixth last start at Cranbourne on a soft track, place only.

THEOPHILUS placed when fresh and finished strongly to end up midfield last start at Bendigo on a soft track, the testing material. REVOLVER first starter and placed in Stawell trial, place chance. KING CZAR only able to place as favourite last start at Seymour on a soft track when first up, strong place chance. SURAT DISTRICT first starter and fitter for Cranbourne-Trn trial, needs the breaks.

TONKIN won last trial at Cranbourne-Trn, genuine contender. SAN TAN TONI first-up after 28 week break, not without each-way claims. THE GRUMPY BEAR placed in last trial at Cranbourne-Trn, the real danger in the race. AFFIRMATIVE LAD in the money at only start running third at Ballarat Synthetic, still in this.

BIZOT back from long 40 week spell and placed when on debut at Ballarat, perfectly placed. AMINATU placed at long odds last start at Sportsbet-pakenham Synthetic and five of six wins have come from dry ground, could threaten. LONG LOST FRIEND resumes after a spell of 14 weeks and will come to hand quickly, the real danger in the race. KUSINI racing back from the city and should run fitter for past attempts, needs the breaks.

CALL TO GLORY gave nothing else a chance to win last start at Terang on a soft track and has good early speed, serious player. PRIDE OF SULLIVAN faded to finish four lengths off the winner last start at Sale on a soft track when first up and likely to race on the speed, place only. BRIGHELLA back after 16 week break and racing back from metro track, place chance. SILVER WAVES comes back to race at a country level and likely to get a nice run behind the speed, needs the breaks.

IGOTCHA placed last start at Bendigo when fresh and capable of closing gamely, genuine contender. THE MARG FACTOR has placed in two attempts this campaign and racing back from the city, still in this. MAYAN 2 wins from 12 attempts this campaign and drawn perfectly, cannot be ruled out. GRAND SAGE comes back to race at a country level and all three wins have come in the dry, in with a chance.

Not a lot between the top three in this. HOKKAIDO let-up for 12 weeks and comes to hand quickly, one of the main hopes. ROCKABILLY REBEL has the speed to overcome a very wide draw and a winner at first outing this prep, a real threat. WICHITALL in strong form with two wins from nine attempts this campaign and amongst the placegetters last start running third at Geelong, right in this. WAR DRAMA and came on strong to win last start at Sale and in strong form with two wins from seven attempts this campaign, could threaten.