It's going to be a very different Warrnambool May races with the coronavirus pandemic putting a halt to crowds this year.
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The boys from T&T (Tim Auld and Andrew Thomson) cast an experienced eye over the three feature races.
Tuesday will be a jumps spectacular with the Brierly Steeplechase (3.05pm), Galleywood Hurdle (3.45pm) and the Grand Annual Steeplechase (4.30pm) all being held on the one day for the first time. Wednesday they'll look over the flat races with the Warrnambool Cup and Wangoom Handicap the feature events on the final day of the coronavirus-impacted meeting.
TIM: Well Thomo, here we are again. Sunny May, it must be time for racing to have its share of sporting limelight.
THOMO: But, it's going to be very different this year due to the virus. No crowds, the owners can't even go to the track.
TIM: Time to find a winner mate. Let's look at the Brierly Steeplechase first over 3450m. I think it's a race in two between Ciaron Maher's Euroman and Paddy Payne's Slowpoke Rodriguez. Two outstanding trainers.
THOMO: I've found a bit of a roughie in this, The Dominator. I was really taken with his run at May two years ago winning the Dunroe Steeplechase.
TIM: Well what about the Annual? Ablaze is a bit short at odds-on but he's clearly the horse to beat.
THOMO: I think the Symon Wilde-trained Gold Medals has had a very good preparation. Won two years ago, second behind Zed Em last year and meets him 1.5kg better off this time around.
TIM: I've found us a little bit of value in the race with Maher's second stringer Bit Of A Lad. Ran fourth last year and is a great each-way hope. Zed Em would have to set a weight carrying record to win.
THOMO: Well we would have to agree that hot pop Runaway, for iconic trainer Gai Waterhouse, is a good thing in the Gallerywood Hurdle.
TIM: He's going to be a huge chance, but the locals have a leading contender in the Peter Chow-prepared Robbie's Star. There's been strong support in early betting and if Runaway was to get beat, Chow's stable star is a big chance.
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