The 2017 Ramornie Handicap Form Guide is essential reading for racing fans and punters ahead of the featured sprint at Grafton Racecourse on Wednesday afternoon.

Several in-form sprinters have been confirmed in the capacity 2017 Ramornie Handicap field, but he have analysed every horse in detail, in order to help you find the race winner.

The Monstar

The Monstar has found strong and consistent form this time and is a live chance of winning the Ramornie Handicap on Wednesday. The California Dane gelding clearly required a run when he finished towards the tail of the field in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) first-up on May 13^th, but has since finished third in the Cancer Foundation Handicap (1100m) at Randwick, won the Listed June Stakes (1100m) by more than six lengths and finished second behind Gold Symphony in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) last time out. The six-year-old should relish 1200m and while charged with carrying a 59.5kgs topweight, is probably stepping back in class into the Ramornie Handicap field.

Boss Lane

Boss Lane carries winning form into the Ramornie Handicap and is another horse that should be right in the finish of the featured sprint. A proven performer at the class and distance of the Ramornie Handicap, the Dubawi gelding trialled well in the lead-up to this campaign, but was luckless in the Cancer Foundation Handicap first-up and finished mid-field. Having delivered a notable field a near-four length defeat in the Winter Dash (1200m) at Randwick on June 24^th, Boss Lane will be rock-hard fit ahead of his third-up run on Wednesday.

Flippant

Flippant has a class edge on much of the 2017 Ramornie Handicap field and is sure to carry plenty of benefit into the race. Finishing third in each of the Group 2 Breeders Classic (1200m) and Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) in early autumn, the Hinchinbrook mare resumed for a commendable fifth in the Group 3 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 24^th and will have conditions to suit when she takes her place in the Ramornie Handicap field.

Mount Nebo – SCRATCHED 

Mount Nebo has been inconsistent this time in, but he will loom as a serious threat on Wednesday if he finds his best in the Ramornie Handicap. Mount Nebo flew home to win the Future Floors Handicap (1050m) first-up on April 1^st, but failed to produce anything in each of the Listed Weetwood Quality (1200m) or Listed Chief De Beers (1050m) at his next two appearances. Again running on well to finish third in the Winter Dash, the son of Dubawi could only manage seventh in the Civic Stakes at his most-recent appearance.

Someday

Someday has not been seen at the races for more than a year and it is tough to see where he fits into this Ramornie Handicap field and how he will perform. The Falvelon gelding has produced a number of strong results at black type level during his racing career and finished a credible fourth in the Listed Falvelon quality in February last year, in what was his second most-recent appearance. He is weighted well at only 54.5kgs.

Steel Zip

Veteran Steel Zip has always performed well in the Ramornie Handicap and is another horse that should take plenty of benefit from his last run into this race. Third in the Ramornie Handicap last year, the Canadian Silver gelding produced a number of smart performances through summer and autumn this year; running fourth in the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) most notably. Having returned from a freshen-up to finish seventh in the WJ Healy Stakes, there is nothing to say that Steel Zip can’t produce another top three finish of Wednesday.

Badajoz

The first of two Godolphin entrants in the 2017 Ramornie Handicap field, Badajoz has found terrific form this time in and looms as the first possible black type winner for James Cummings, since the Sydney horseman took up a position as head trainer of the major syndicate’s Australian arm. While undoubtedly facing a step up in class into the Ramornie Handicap field, the Commands gelding finished second in each of the Cancer Foundation Handicap (1100m) and Schweppes BM85 (1100m) upon resuming this time, before taking out the XXXX BM90 (1000m) on the Sunshine Coast by close to two lengths last time out.

Aomen – SCRATCHED

Veteran Aomen is proven on the course and distance of the Ramornie Handicap and will relish an 8kgs drop in weights from his most-recent start. Aomen has transferred to the care of Cessnock trainer Jeremy Sylvester this season, but failed to fire in either of the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) or the Cancer Foundation Handicap (1100m) upon resuming. The Shamardal gelding held a good position on the rails in the John Carlton Cup (1206m) at Grafton last week and managed to box on for third, despite his heavy weight and opponents.

Lucky Tom

Lucky Tom is only an outsider in this Ramornie Handicap field, but the horse has been capable of mustering a big run an upset throughout his racing career and is a threat if he can do that on Wednesday. Winner of the Listed The Phoenix (1400m) as an outsider in 2014, the Lucky Owners gelding resumed in March for a smart win in the Giddy Up Club Plate (1200m) as a $26 shot, but failed to fire at his next two starts. Last seen running a credible fourth in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1400m) in May, Lucky Tom has conditions to suit on Wednesday.

Londehero

Londehero’s form appears to have tailed off through recent starts and he would need to improve dramatically to win the Ramornie Handicap. Fourth in the Weetwood Handicap in April, the Lonhro gelding placed third on the Gold Coast on May 6^th and fifth in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1050m) on June 3^rd, before placing a lacklustre ninth in the Healy Stakes last time out.

Mogador

Godolphin’s second entrant in the 2017 Ramornie Handicap field, Mogador has simply failed to live up to the hype which has followed his preparation this time and he would need to improve tenfold to find himself in the winner’s stall on Wednesday. Eighth with no luck in the TJ Smith Hall Of Fame Trophy (1200m) first-up on May 20^th, the Lonhro gelding arrived in Queensland for eighth in the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m), before again running eighth in the Healy Stakes last time out.

Sony Legend – SCRATCHED 

Song Legend has been consistent this time, but he has only managed to finish mid-field amongst black type company and faces another big task in the quality of this Ramornie Handicap field. Fifth of six in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) on April 29^th, the Hard Spun gelding managed a credible fifth in the Hinkler Handicap, but failed to produce much in the XXXX BM90 last time out.

O’Reilly’s Revenge

Sydney-based sprinter O’Reilly’s Revenge has not been seen at the races since January, but is reportedly in good condition ahead of the Ramornie Handicap. The gelding was consistent through a busy spring and summer preparation; winning the Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga most notably on Boxing Day. He does have the notable advantage of leading country hoop Robert Thompson in the saddle and is weighted well.

Calanda

Three-year-old Calanda has found excellent form this season and should prove extremely difficult to beat under the conditions of the 2017 Ramornie Handicap. The three-year-old required a few runs to find peak fitness this time in, but overcame a tough run in transit and a check to finish a credible sixth in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1200m) on June 10^th. Returning to Sydney and winning form in the Schweppes BM93 (1100m) on July 1^st, the horse is primed for a big run amongst open company in the Ramornie Handicap.

Free Standing

Free Standing has been one of Australian country racing’s best this year and should again prove to be a handful when he takes his place in the Ramornie Handicap field. Winning of a Highway Handicap (1200m) at Randwick in December, the son of Equino placed fifth at Canterbury at his next start, before finishing second behind Perfect Dare in the Country Championship Qualifier (1400m) at Grafton on February 13^th. Rated a $31 chance in the Country Championships Final (1400m) on Day 1 of The Championships, Freed Standing flew home to win the race by close to three lengths. He is weighted well and reportedly in good, fresh condition ahead of the Ramornie Handicap.

Evangelist

The final horse confirmed as a starter in the 2017 Ramornie Handicap field, Evangelist has been inconsistent at best this time in and probably cannot win the featured sprint. The Oasis Dream gelding has produced several good performances throughout his racing career, but has failed to beat a single runner home in each of his two most-recent starts.

Taillevent – SCRATCHED 

The first emergency for the 2017 Ramornie Handicap, Taillevent has managed several good performances and results this time and is not without a chance at odds, should he gain a start. Saddled on the Gold Coast by Bruce Hill, the Haradasun gelding finished second behind Irish Constabulary at Doomben over the weekend.

Red Bowers

Red Bowers looms as a potential second runner for Matt Dunn in the Ramornie Handicap field, who will also saddle Londehero. Red Bowers ran on well to win the Condong Men’s Bowling Club Cup (1200m) at his home course of Murwillumbah last time out on June 4^th.

Three Sheets

Three Sheets has steadily built to the task this time and is a lightweight chance of a first five finish, should he gain a start. Sixth in the Leith Group BM78 (1200m) on June 10^th, the Stratum gelding ran on well for second in the John Carlton Cup last week.

Steve’s Surprise – SCRATCHED 

The final emergency confirmed for the 2017 Ramornie Handicap field, Steve’s Surprise finished sixth in the Casino Cup (1400m) on May 26^th before placing fifth in the John Carlton Cup most recently.