Beckham top but it’s a Chariot race in rain

TRAINER Liam Birchley rates Beckham ahead of Chariot Of Gold as his best chance in race three at Doomben but that could change if the rain arrives as expected today.

The Doomben track was rated a good 4 late yesterday but the forecast is for 4-15ml of rain in Brisbane today with the chance of a thunderstorm from late morning.

Birchley’s stablemates Beckham ($3) and Chariot Of Gold ($4.40) dominate the market in the Class 6 Handicap (1350m) and Birchley said the weather could help separate them.

“I would probably go with Beckham right now but if the rain comes definitely the other horse (Chariot Of Gold),” Birchley said yesterday.

“Chariot Of Gold is a real good wet tracker and the wetter it is the better its chances will be.

“It also depends on what sort of speed there is … and the more pressure there is on (likely leader) Chariot Of Gold, I would lean to the other one but if he can lead on his own he will be very hard to get past.”

Former Kiwi Beckham has never raced on anything worse than a good 4 and Birchley is unsure whether he will handle a wet track.

Meanwhile, trainer Tony Gollan feels Dysfunction ($15) is over the odds in the fillies and mares Class 6 (1350m) at Doomben today.

Gollan also has equal favourite Max It Out ($4.60) and Pantalettes ($10) in the same race and feels all three are genuine chances.

“The market seems to have Max It Out on top and she was $4 in a Class 3 the other day and now she is $4.60 in a Class 6. All three profile well for that race,” Gollan said.

“I thought Dysfunction was over the odds at $15. She’s out to her right distance and it was too short for her first-up and she was rushed along.”

Gollan rated My Girl Hayley (race seven) as his best chance at Doomben today but was unsure whether she would be able to handle a wet track, if that eventuates.

He also tipped Conquer to run “really well” in race eight “providing he gets around Doomben” and feels Notonyourlife will go close in race two if the rain doesn’t arrive.