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The top bets from Clinton Payne for Grand Finals weekend

Clinton Payne - Friday September 29

It's footy finals weekend and with that comes three days of Group I racing meaning blokes like myself get a taste of heaven and I'll be opening the purse strings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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It doesn't get much better than this weekend.

LIZZIE L’AMOUR (Moonee Valley Race 6 No 3)
I just have to ignore what I saw first-up when in fairness she had a genuine excuse – pulling up with atrial fibrillation. If you go back and watch that run, ignoring the outcome, she was smokin until Damien Oliver pressed the button and there was nothing there. A few good judges, top horseman that I’m not naming, reckon horses bounce back hard after they suffer from atrial fibrillation so I’m chasing. Her trial leading up to that run was awesome and as I said when tipping her first-up, she’s a mare that’s come a long way in a short time and comes out of a stable that knows what’s needed to be winning good races in Australia. I’m charging in again.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $9 @ Bet365

ONE MORE HONEY (Randwick Race 5 No 3)
 She's been good in both runs this preparation in unsuitably slow run races. In her last run in the Tea Rose she was beaten 2-3/4 lengths but should have finished much closer after not much went right for her in the straight. Blake Shinn didn't obtain clear air until inside the 200m and One More Honey let down strongly under hands and heels riding. I think Champagne Cuddles and Alizee and the best fillies' in the race but they've drawn the outside two gates, Champagne Cuddles is backing up for the third straight week and Alizee will need one of the great rides to obtain a similar run that she got last time when showing what she's capable of. One More Honey on the other hand lands in the perfect spot from barrier 2, Pandemonium should set up a favourable tempo and I think One More Honey's a solid way to play the race on an each-way basis.
BET: EACH-WAY
 ODDS $8 @ Sportsbet ($9.50 Power Play), Ladbrokes ($10 Odds Boost), CrownBet, Luxbet, Bet365, William Hill, PalmerBet, Unibet

CHAUTAUQUA (Randwick Race 6 No 1)
 Beaten horses are no more impressive than this bloke was in The Shorts. He closed off in a similar vein to his memorable TJ Smith and Hong Kong International Sprint wins and the sectionals confirmed his effort wasn't a mirage, breaking the magical 11 second for the five 200m splits home from the 1000m. With Ball Of Muscle lining up again on Saturday there should be enough early speed to give the ghostly grey his chance to get home over the top of them and as we all know his Randwick record is second to none and his second-up record is also pretty impressive. I reckon he's come back as well as ever and I'm expecting him to make a real statement on Saturday.
BET: WIN
ODDS $3.30 @ Sportsbet ($3.70 Power Play), CrownBet, Luxbet, Bet365

FOUNDRY (Randwick Race 8 No 10)
Libran's the $5 favourite for The Metropolitan this year but let's not forget he was sent out a $26 chance in the Kingston Town when returning to the winner's circle a fortnight ago. That has me thinking there's value to be found in this race and I've landed on one of Lloyd's. He's only been lightly-raced since arriving in Australia late in 2013 but there's enough in his form to indicate he's a talented stayer when right and his recent runs would indicate he's building to a career peak performance on Saturday. Gets to 2400m third-up here but we all know the stable have a wonderful ability of getting horses fit without racing them and this horse ran second at Group II level over this trip at his second start when formerly-trained in Europe. He wouldn't be here if the stable didn't think he was capable of a strong showing and his two performances this prep point to that being what we'll get on Saturday.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $9 @ Ladbrokes ($12 Odds Boost), CrownBet, Luxbet, Bet365, William Hill

I THOUGHT SO (Randwick Race 9 No 10)
I've saved the best till last this week. This talented three-year-old has somewhat lost his way in recent starts but there have been factors that have contributed to that line of thought and he appears well placed to get back on track this weekend. Those two testosterone filled things he had hanging between his legs were his own worst enemy late in his last campaign, and the stable probably gave him one or two runs to many. He returned at Randwick a fortnight ago and finished fourth behind the underrated Isorich when beaten 1-1/4 lengths after being posted four deep without cover throughout. This time he's drawn perfectly in barrier 4 so he shouldn't have any problems getting a sweet covered up run and if the breaks go his way, I reckon I'll be saying – I thought so.
BET: WIN
ODDS $4.60 @ CrownBet

SO SI BON (Caulfield Race 8 No 11)
This horse has been crying out for a high-pressure Group I handicap and that's what he gets on Saturday. His first-up run was super down the straight at Flemington, then he again attacked the line strongly in The Heath before a change of tactics saw him ridden up on the speed in the Bobbie Lewis and he disappointed. Last Saturday they adopted the proven tactics with him, again ridden quiet behind producing his power finish, reeling off some superb sectionals. He drops 4.5kg on Saturday and finds a race with some high speed on pace gallopers that should ensure the weak won't survive over the final 100m, and if the breaks go So Si Bon's way in the last 400m, he'll be charging and a good each-way bet at the price.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $21 @ Bet365

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