It could be a case of fifth time lucky for the backers of 3yr-old pacer Easton Foxglove at Forbury Park tonight.
The Brian Norman-trained filly is set to start favourite for the fifth consecutive time at the track, in race 3.
Easton Foxglove was a red-hot $1.50 favourite when the TAB opened its fixed-odds markets for the race yesterday afternoon.
Although she has let her win backers down recently, the Washington VC filly has been brilliantly consistent and notched top-four placings in each of her past six starts.
According to her trainer, the big factor that has stopped Easton Foxglove making it into the winner’s circle is her lack of gate speed.
"She is not suited by the mobiles. She runs out at the start before the gate gets going and she ends up at the back," Brian Norman said.
Punters who are not tempted by her red-hot odds may be tempted to save their money until Easton Foxglove is entered in a standing-start race.
Had tonight’s race been a stand, Easton Foxglove could have been a safer bet as she can begin much faster from behind the tapes.
That is despite her unruly standing-start status, which was the result of naughty behaviour on debut that was not entirely her fault, Norman said.
"She is good from a stand, but she is off the unruly."
"I am actually going to go to a stand as soon as one comes up so that she can go off the unruly."
Despite her lack of gate speed, Easton Foxglove may simply prove to be too good in tonight’s field, which lacks exposed form.
Fellow 3yr-old Trompeur looks to be one of the main contenders outside the favourite.
The David Mitchell-trained pacer finished hard on the back of winner Cruisin Reuben in a stronger race at Forbury Park two weeks ago.
Norman also lines up another red-hot fixed-odds favourite in race 2.
Whata Razzle Dazzle opened a $1.65 favourite in a line-up of out-of-form horses when fixed-odds markets opened yesterday.
The pacer was good when running third behind impressive winner Captain Thunderbolt at Winton on Saturday.
If Whata Razzle Dazzle can replicate the sectionals he ran in that race it would almost certainly mean he would win tonight.
The pacer was three and four-wide before the home turn on a sizzling 55.8sec last 800m.
"He is a capable horse. Last week was the first time I have been able to get him around without hanging. He has troubles hitting his shins," Norman said.
With the horse pacing better in his past two starts, Norman thinks Whata Razzle Dazzle could be a better winning chance than Easton Foxglove tonight, he said. Both horses will be driven by star reinsman Dexter Dunn.
The Tahakopa trainer has one other runner racing tonight, Glendhu Gem in race 1, to be driven by Nathan Williamson.
The trotter has not been competitive in her eight-start career so far, but was edging towards showing racegoers her true potential soon, Norman said.
