Almanac Horseracing: Casterton Jumps Racing Preview – Sunday 18 May 2025

 

#AusJumpsRacingPreviews – Casterton, Sunday 18 May 2025

 

Racing returns to the picturesque Casterton course for Casterton Cup and Two Rivers Steeplechase day on Sunday 18 May and whilst the steeplechase field is a little light on for numbers it is sure to be an entertaining spectacle as usual.

 

The Two Rivers Steeplechase (the Wannon River meets the Glenelg River in the open country on the side of the course) will be different this year for one particular reason and that is Elvison, the winner of the last three running’s of the race won’t be going around this year as he was retired after winning the race last year.

 

If you’ve got time tomorrow and can’t get to the course, make sure you tune in via racing.com or Sky Channel at 2.30pm for the steeplechase around the very picturesque cross-country course taking in the live hedges. I’ll be on course.

 

In my opinion you usually need to be on pace or have circumstances to suit in the hurdle and flat races around the tight course at Casterton.

 

 

Race 1 – bet365 Maiden Hurdle 3500m @ 11.50am

 

Going with the 1 Balinor here and on paper he looks a good thing. He’s got the best flat form of the runners in this having been a recent 3000m winner at The Valley in early March before running second to Loft in a Maiden Hurdle at Warrnambool in late March, where he was beaten ¾ of a length, although Loft certainly wasn’t pushed out. That form has been proven with Loft going on to win again at Warrnambool during the May Carnival over Hurdles where he was one of the easiest winners of the week and looks like he’s got a big future over jumps. The extra 300m here shouldn’t be an issue, Balinor will be up on speed and is good enough to win this with Steven Pateman riding. Hardest to beat will be 10 Enchanted Elle from the Symon Wilde stable. She was sound over jumps at Warrnambool when ran down late by Sing For Peace and a 2kg weight allowance helps her and 9 Zegalo can improve on his hurdle run at Warrnambool when he just got too far back. His placings in Maiden Hurdles last season are good enough to put him in the mix here and the 3kg claim for jockey David Mulcahy will also help. The extra 300m and whether he settles in the run are queries with Zegalo.

 

*1 Balinor – 10 Enchanted Elle – 9 Zegalo

 

 

Race 2 – Yarram Park Maiden Hurdle 3500m @ 12.30pm

 

This Maiden Hurdle is a little more open than the first race although 10 Raise The Note will be a short priced favourite. The Shane Jackson stable took all before them at Warrnambool with three good winners over jumps for the week and this mare, whilst beaten some 14 lengths by two very good flat performers debuting over jumps down there, was 12 lengths ahead of the fourth placed horse. That’s good enough to win this. Tom Ryan takes the ride again, she’ll get a 2kg weight allowance and should enough pace to hold down a forward position and be too good at the finish. A five-year-old mare by proven stallion when it comes to jumpers in Raise The Flag, she may be another exciting prospect for the Shane Jackson stable moving forward. Hardest to beat will be 1 Cool King who finished fourth at Warrnambool behind Highland Blaze in a strong Maiden Hurdle and the 3 Kailash for third. He’ll be all the better for two sound hurdle runs this preparation.

 

10 Raise The Note – 1 Cool King – 3 Kailash

 

 

Race 3 Nutrien Ag Open Hurdle 3500m @ 1.10pm

 

A very good open hurdle. A small field but there’s quality here with a mix of proven jumpers and a few making their way over jumps. I’ve been keen on 5 Treasured Crown and 8 Road Runner from the trials earlier this season as outlined in my trial reviews, but based on race performances, particularly from the Warrnambool Carnival I’m going with 6 Highland Blaze in this. Another from the Shane Jackson stable he was a strong Maiden Hurdle winner at Warrnambool and the way he finished the race off there the extra 300m here will only suit. He’s a 3000m winner on the flat in the city over summer and will be ridden by Jordan Hart again here so gets a 3kg weight allowance which will help him. There’s sure to be plenty of speed in this race with 1 Fabalot, 5 Treasured Crown and 8 Road Runner all up on speed and 3 Alakahan also not being far away. That speed in the race should suit Highland Blaze.

 

I’ve been impressed with 5 Treasured Crown from his early trials and whilst well beaten by Loft at Warrnambool last start, I don’t think that is any disgrace. Loft may be a class above all hurdlers this season. Treasured Crown will race up on speed, jumps very well and will be the hardest to beat from another fresh horse this season 8 Road Runner. Road Runner was slightly disappointing at Warrnambool in my opinion but will be all the better for that run and showed enough at his trials to suggest he will be very competitive in his races. I think he’s better than he showed at Warrnambool in race conditions.

 

And that’s leaving out some very good hurdlers!

 

6 Highland Blaze – 5 Treasured Crown – 8 Road Runner

 

 

Race 5 – Ecycle Two Rivers Steeplechase 3800m @ 2.30pm

 

The 2 The Mighty Spar won very impressively around this course last year and whilst he’s yet to win over the fences since I think he can get back on the winners list here. He’s been held comfortably by Duke Of Bedford at his two recent steeplechase starts after looking the winner at Warrnambool first start this season only to be beaten into third in a three-way photo finish. He’s shown a liking for this course and can carry the weight here to return to the winners circle. Horses have shown in the past that if they like this course, they can carry weight to win around it.

 

Hardest to beat may be one at a bit of odds in 6 Aquileon. He doesn’t win often but has shown a liking for this course in the past and was just starting to run into the Novice Steeplechase nicely at Warrnambool when Nelson fell in front of him and Aquileon ran into him. Tom Ryan takes the ride here and with no weight on his back he could be the testing material. 1 Prismatic a stable mate of The Mighty Spar is yet to race around the Casterton course but based on his run at Warrnambool and the weight scale between him and 3 Custom Of The Sea, Prismatic goes in next and he certainly wouldn’t surprise.

 

2 The Mighty Spar – 6 Aquileon – 1 Prismatic

 

 

The main race of the day on the flat is race 8, the Foodworks Casterton Cup over 2000m at 4.25pm.

 

 

Gamble Responsibly. Chances are you’re about to lose.

 

 

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