Deane Lester’s Flemington Best Bets

Posted on December 18, 2020December 18, 2020 | Posted by Deane Lester

RACE 1 NO.3 BARTHOLOMEW DIAS

Imported stayer BARTHOLOMEW DIAS should be ready to peak following three runs back from a spell and looks a strong winning chance when he runs in the Open Handicap (2600m). The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained gelding ran a solid 2^nd behind MONGOLIAN MARSHAL in the Kyneton Cup (2000m) on November 4 before a luckless 8^th behind ONE MORE TRY over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley on November 28. His European form would suggest that he will relish a step up in distance on a bigger track. John Allen retains the ride and BARTHOLOMEW DIAS can start Flemington punters on a winning note.

RACE 6 NO.1 WALKING FLYING

The value runner at the Flemington meeting is WALKING FLYING when she contests the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m). The four year old has had two runs back from a spell and has endured forgivable runs on both occasions. She drew wide on a leader biased track when finishing 9^th behind TITAN BLINDERS over 1400 metres at Ballarat on November 21 before being ridden out of her usual pattern when racing on the pace before fading when 9^th behind TAVIDANCE over 1600 metres at Pakenham on December 5. She drops back to her right class, gets the benefit of a 3kg allowance for promising apprentice Matthew Cartwright and races well at Flemington. She’s ready to make improvement and makes appeal at each way odds.

RACE 8 NO.10 TITAN BLINDERS

TITAN BLINDERS has been racing in career best form and looks the one to beat again when he runs in the Open Handicap (1400m). The five year old has always been a consistent performer but has parlayed those solid runs into consecutive wins of late, firstly in the Ararat Bowl (1300m) on November 8 before leading all the way to win over 1400 metres at Ballarat on November 21. He has been freshened since that last run but showed that he has lost nothing fitness wise with an excellent jumpout at Flemington on December 11. He looks the likely leader and TITAN BLINDERS represents the best bet of the day.

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